Cancer stem cells: lessons from melanoma.
The model of cancer stem cells in tumor development states that tumors contain a subset of cells that both self renew and give rise to differentiated progeny. Like normal adult tissue stem cells, cancer stem cells are a minority of the whole tumor and are the only cells that are able to maintain tumor growth indefinitely. In the present review is critically discussed the actually existence of a cancer stem cell subpopulation in melanoma. The self-renewal signaling pathways as well as specific markers like as CD133, ABCB5 and ABCG2 recently identified in putative melanoma cancer stem cells are also discussed.
La Porta
Caterina
C
Department of Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. caterina.laporta@unimi.it
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D010455:Peptides; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
C480744:ABCB5 protein, human; C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; C000606024:Prom1 protein, mouse