title: Characterization of Cancer Stem Cells.
abstract: There is biological and clinical evidence that mammalian tumors are highly heterogeneous at single-cell level, and that only a minority of the cancer cells have limitless replicative potential in vitro and in vivo. Here we review the different strategies currently used for the functional isolation of cancer cells with in vivo cancer initiation potential and self-renewal. These tools are currently used to better define their molecular, phenotypic, and drug-resistance characteristics in preclinical and clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orecchioni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy. francesco.bertolini@ieo.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertolini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Aldehyde dehydrogenase; Cancer stem cells; Cancer-initiating cells; FACS; Methods; Side population; Tumorigenicity; Tumorspheres