Cancer Stem Cell

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cancer cells (found within tumors or cancers) that possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells. They are defined by their ability to (i) fully recapitulate the tumor of origin when transplanted, and (ii) self-renew. If treatments of cancer do not properly destroy enough CSCs, the tumor will reappear.

Links

• Recent Data From the Laboratory and Clinic about Cancer Stem Cell–Directed Therapies

• Wikipedia Entry for Cancer Stem Stell