title: [Cancer stem cell research toward therapeutics].
abstract: The capacity of cancer stem cells, or cancer-initiating cells, to both provide mature tumor cells and perpetuate themselves through self-renewal is crucial to initiate and maintain tumorigenesis, and has become the focus of intense research interest as a promising source of new therapeutic strategies. However, many scientific challenges and technical barriers remain to be solved before recent findings can be translated into effective therapeutics. Here we highlight the latest advances in our knowledge of cancer stem cells, and provide a critical perspective on the clinical benefits promised by this developing area of research.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D057905:Stem Cell Research