Cell & Tissue Science

Future of Cancer Care

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cancer cells (found among tumors or hematological cancers) that possess characteristics related to traditional stem cells, specifically the flexibility to offer a rise to a variety of cells found during a specific cancer sample. CSCs are so tumorigenic (tumor-forming), perhaps in contrast to alternative non-tumorigenic cancer cells. CSCs might generate tumors through the stem cell processes of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell varieties. Such cells are hypothesized to persist in tumors as a distinct population and cause relapse and metastasis by giving rise to new tumors. Therefore, development of specific therapies targeted at CSCs holds hope for improvement of survival and quality of life of cancer patients, especially for patients with metastatic disease.