title: The cancer stem cell hypothesis: a guide to potential molecular targets.
abstract: Common cancer theories hold that tumor is an uncontrolled somatic cell proliferation caused by the progressive addition of random mutations in critical genes that control cell growth. Nevertheless, various contradictions related to the mutation theory have been reported previously. These events may be elucidated by the persistence of residual tumor cells, called Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) responsible for tumorigenesis, tumor maintenance, tumor spread, and tumor relapse. Herein, we summarize the current understanding of CSCs, with a focus on the possibility to identify specific markers of CSCs, and discuss the clinical application of targeting CSCs for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonci
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Innao
authors.forename: Demetrio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerace
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Musolino
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Chemoresistance; Hematologic disease; Leukemia; Marker; Oncology; Relapse