[Progress of studies on tumor stem cell and anti-cancer treatment by nourishing Shen essence and qi].
The tumor stem cells (TSC) existing in the tumor plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis though very few in number. It is a special kind of stem cells with highly proliferative and self-regenerative cap ability to maintain its number stable and generate tumor. Therefore, the radical treatment of tumor should focus on TSC. TSC are derived from adult stem cells. According to TCM theory, normal stem cells belong to the category of Shen essence and qi, and patients suffering from malignant tumor always manifest as the syndrome of essence and qi deficiency, so nourishing Shen essence and qi should be of great importance for treatment of tumor.
Zheng
Zhan
Z
Department of Oncology , Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai. wellbeingzz@sina.com
Xu
Zhen-ye
ZY
D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019413:Qi; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D051153:Wnt Proteins