title: "Cancer stem cells"-lessons from Hercules to fight the Hydra.
abstract: Following the initial identification of hematopoietic tumor stem cells, such cells were also found in several solid tumor types. In urology, cancer stem cells have only been found in prostate tumors so far. The concept and detection of tumor stem cells rely heavily on findings derived from stem cell research. Therefore, in addition to identifying and characterizing urologic tumor stem cells, research in uro-oncology should also aim at better understanding the stem-cell biology of urologic organs. Insights in similarities and differences gleaned from these studies could be used to develop strategies for targeted destruction of tumor stem cells while sparing the physiological stem cells. The main target of future curative therapies in uro-oncology must therefore be the central, immortal head of the Hydra, the tumor stem cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix Roman
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Moltzahn
authors.forename: Jens-Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Volkmer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rottke
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ackermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase