Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are a subset of cancer cells
with selfrenewal, differentiation and tumor-initiating properties. They are
considered as the leading cause of tumor initiation, promotion, and relapse in
most types of cancers. The first experimental evidence for CSCs was given by
Bonnet and Dick in 1997. They found that single CD34+CD38– Acute MyeloidLeukemia (AML) cell was able to initiate AML in NOD-SCID mice .
Furthermore,
this small subset population was found to be responsible for chemotherapy and
radiotherapy resistance because CSCs have enhanced DNA repair ability, enriched
anti-apoptotic proteins, improved drug efflux transporters, and are protected
in specific microenvironment or niche . Therefore, these leukemia initiating
cells (LIC) or leukemia Stem Cells (LSCs) are considered as a critical target
for leukemia therapy. Subsequently, CSCs in solid tumors have been identified
from brain, prostate, breast, colon, and pancreas cancer.(Read more)
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