Cancer stem cells and the ontogeny of lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world today and is poised to claim approximately 1 billion lives during the 21st century. A major challenge in treating this and other cancers is the intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies demonstrated by the stem/progenitor cell that is responsible for the sustained growth, survival, and invasion of the tumor. Identifying these stem cells in lung cancer and defining the biologic processes necessary for their existence is paramount in developing new clinical approaches with the goal of preventing disease recurrence. This review summarizes our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms operating within the putative cancer-initiating cell at the core of lung neoplasia.
The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans St, Rm 546, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Craig D
CD
Peacock
D Neil
DN
Watkins
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017211:Treatment Failure
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch