title: Cancer: inappropriate expression of stem cell programs?
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that possess characteristics, including self-renewal, associated with normal stem cells. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Wong et al. (2008) define a core embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like gene expression program that may be important for CSC function in multiple epithelial cancers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Yingzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor