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Precision Molecular Pathology of Prostate Cancer pp 99–113Cite as

Cancer Stem Cells

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Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB))

Abstract

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, invasion of adjacent normal tissue, and metastasis to distant organs. The cancerous cells have their origin in normal cells, and they contain genetic changes causing increased cell proliferation and decreased cell apoptosis. Multiple therapeutic strategies, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, have been used for treatment which often achieve control of the primary cancer. However, cancer recurrence and metastasis often occur. At this stage, the tumor cells are often more aggressive and do not respond to treatment as well, leading to death. A major question in cancer therapy is why the apparently effective treatment cannot get rid of all the tumor cells. Recent studies have indicated the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that can generate tumors and are resistant to treatments. It is hypothesized that tumors arise from a single CSC, but the resulting tumor contains many cell types with various proliferation and differentiation capacities. This tumor heterogeneity led to the cancer cell hierarchy theory, with cancer stem cells sitting at the apex giving rise to progenitor cells and ultimately mature and differentiated tumor cells. Similar to normal stem cells, CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. As a result, CSCs that survive treatment can cause relapse by repopulating the tumor. With mounting evidences suggesting the existence of CSCs in many human tumors, it is important to identify them by specific markers and understand the signaling pathways contributing to their unique biological properties and their function in tumor initiation, metastasis, and recurrence. It is believed that cancer cure can be achieved only if CSCs can be targeted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Yanjing Li Ph.D. & Jiaoti Huang M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Yanjing Li Ph.D.
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  2. Jiaoti Huang M.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiaoti Huang M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Brian D. Robinson

  2. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Juan Miguel Mosquera

  3. Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Houston, Texas, USA

    Jae Y. Ro

  4. Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Houston, Texas, USA

    Mukul Divatia

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Li, Y., Huang, J. (2018). Cancer Stem Cells. In: Robinson, B., Mosquera, J., Ro, J., Divatia, M. (eds) Precision Molecular Pathology of Prostate Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64096-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64096-9_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-64094-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-64096-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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