[Targeted molecular therapy based on advanced cancer stem cell model].
Improvement of cell purification and transplantation techniques have contributed to the identification of cell populations known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Although it was hypothesized that tumors are organized as hierarchies of tumor cells that are sustained by rare TICs, like normal tissue stem cells, there are several controversies towards such cancer stem cell model, e.g. reversible change of stem cell like population based on epigenetic changes, clonal genetic evolution and problems in xenotransplantation system. Despite complexity in cancer stem cell models, studies in cancer stem cell field have revealed that there are close relationship between cancer malignancy and stem cell properties, called "stemness". Understanding molecular mechanisms for controlling stemness would contribute to establishment of novel diagnostics or therapeutics for cancer.
Atsushi
A
Hirao
D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*