title: From cancer stem cells to tumor maintenance in melanoma.
abstract: The utility of different models to identify cancer stem cells continues to be a subject of intense debate. Here, we summarize recent efforts to characterize intra-tumoral heterogeneity of melanoma and delineate key questions for future studies. Within a developing or already established tumor microenvironment, we propose that continuous tumor maintenance is assured by specific sub-populations whose phenotype is not static but instead is dynamically regulated. These small and temporarily distinct sub-populations likely have critical roles in tumor progression. They are important therapeutic targets, but only in the context of combination therapies, that also eliminate the bulk of the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukunaga-Kalabis
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roesch
authors.forename: Meenhard
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herlyn
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment