The cancer stem cell: premises, promises and challenges

Nat Med. 2011 Mar;17(3):313-9. doi: 10.1038/nm.2304.

Abstract

Over the last decade, the notion that tumors are maintained by their own stem cells, the so-called cancer stem cells, has created great excitement in the research community. This review attempts to summarize the underlying concepts of this notion, to distinguish hard facts from beliefs and to define the future challenges of the field.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays