title: Isolation, identification, and characterization of cancer stem cells: A review.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) as a small subset of neoplastic cells are able to produce a tumor (tumorigenesis), maintain the population of tumorigenic cells (self-renewal), and generate the heterogeneous cells constructing the entire tumor (pluripotency). The research on stationary and circulating CSCs due to resistance to conventional therapies and inability in complete eradication of cancer is critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies for a more effective reduction in the risk of tumor metastasis and cancer recurrence. This review compiles information about different methods of detection and dissociation, side population, cellular markers, and establishment culture of CSCs, as well as characteristics of CSCs such as tumorigenicity, and signaling pathways associated with self-renewal and the capability of the same histological tumor regeneration in various cancers.
authors.affiliation: Human Genetic Division, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Medical Genetics Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.affiliation: Human Genetic Division, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Human Genetic Division, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahya Shariat
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Nanotechnology Research Center, Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Abbas
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Momtazi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.affiliation: Human Genetic Division, Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gholamin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D000066673:Cell Self Renewal; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D058985:Side-Population Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: cancer stem cells; cellular markers; self-renewal; side population; sphere; tumorigenicity