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Isolation and Characterization of Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro

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Basic Cell Culture Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 946))

Abstract

The cancer stem cell hypothesis is an appealing concept to account for intratumoral heterogeneity and the observation that systemic metastasis and treatment failure are often associated with the survival of a small number of cancer cells. Whilst in vivo evidence forms the foundation of this concept, in vitro methods and reagents are attractive as they offer opportunities to perform experiments that are not possible in an animal model. While there is abundant evidence that existing cancer cell lines are not reliable models of tumor heterogeneity, recent advances based on well validated novel cancer cell lines established de novo in defined serum-free media are encouraging, particularly in the study of glioblastoma multiforme. In this chapter we wish to broadly outline the process of establishing, characterizing, and managing novel cancer cell lines in defined serum-free media, and discuss the limitations and potential opportunities that may arise from these model systems.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the OMOHLTC. C.G. is supported by a Royal Australasian College of Physicians CSL Fellowship and a National Health and Medical Research Council Postdoctoral Training Fellowship. L.E.A. is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

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  1. Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Craig Gedye

  2. Department of Medical Biophysics, Ontario Cancer Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Laurie Ailles

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  1. , Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency, West 10th Ave. 675, Vancouver, V5Z 1L3, British Columbia, Canada

    Cheryl D. Helgason

  2. STEMCELL Technologies, Inc., W. Seventh Avenue 570, Vancouver, V5Z 1B3, British Columbia, Canada

    Cindy L. Miller

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Gedye, C., Ailles, L. (2013). Isolation and Characterization of Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro. In: Helgason, C., Miller, C. (eds) Basic Cell Culture Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 946. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-128-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-128-8_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-127-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-128-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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