Cancer stem cells in urologic cancers.
There is evolving evidence for the so-called cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis, which holds that intra-tumoral heterogeneity in urologic malignancies is hierarchical and that not all cells have the ability to proliferate indefinitely and to generate metastases. This has far-reaching implications for research and the clinical management of urologic malignancies. In this review, we outline the tenets and implications of the CSC hypothesis, summarize existing evidence for CSCs in urologic malignancies, suggest research directions that may better dissect intra-tumoral heterogeneity in urologic cancers, and outline novel therapeutic modalities implied by the CSC hypothesis.
Gedye
Craig
C
Department of Medicine, Melbourne University, Austin Health, Studley Road, Heidelberg, Australia.
Davidson
Adee-Jonathan
AJ
Elmes
Martin R
MR
Cebon
Jonathan
J
Bolton
Damien
D
Davis
Ian D
ID
D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*