Am J Cancer Res 2012;2(3):340-356
Review Article
Targeting cancer stem cells: a new therapy to cure cancer patients
Yapeng Hu, Liwu Fu
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
Received April 11, 2012; accepted April 20, 2012; Epub April 22, 2012; Published May 15, 2012
Abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been defined as cells within tumor that possess the capacity to self-renew and to
cause the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. They have been identified in blood, breast, brain,
colon, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, lung cancers and so on. It is often considered to be associated with chemo-
resistance and radio-resistance that lead to the failure of traditional therapies. Most therapies are directed at the fast growing
tumor mass but not the slow dividing cancer stem cells. Eradicating cancer stem cells, the root of cancer origin and recurrence,
has been thought as a promising approach to improve cancer survival or even to cure cancer patients. Understanding the
characteristics of cancer stem cells will help to develop novel therapies to eliminate the initiating cancer stem cell，and the
relevant patents on the cancer stem cell and cancer therapy by cancer stem cells will be discussed. (AJCR00000116).
Keywords: Cancer stem cell, biomarker, signal pathway, drug resistance, natural compound, Mesenchymal stem cells,
differentiation therapy
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Li-wu Fu
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China
Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University
Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Phone: +86-(20)-873-431-63, Fax: +86-(20)-873-431-70
Email: Fulw@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Review Article
Targeting cancer stem cells: a new therapy to cure cancer patients
Yapeng Hu, Liwu Fu
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
Received April 11, 2012; accepted April 20, 2012; Epub April 22, 2012; Published May 15, 2012
Abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been defined as cells within tumor that possess the capacity to self-renew and to
cause the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. They have been identified in blood, breast, brain,
colon, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, lung cancers and so on. It is often considered to be associated with chemo-
resistance and radio-resistance that lead to the failure of traditional therapies. Most therapies are directed at the fast growing
tumor mass but not the slow dividing cancer stem cells. Eradicating cancer stem cells, the root of cancer origin and recurrence,
has been thought as a promising approach to improve cancer survival or even to cure cancer patients. Understanding the
characteristics of cancer stem cells will help to develop novel therapies to eliminate the initiating cancer stem cell，and the
relevant patents on the cancer stem cell and cancer therapy by cancer stem cells will be discussed. (AJCR00000116).
Keywords: Cancer stem cell, biomarker, signal pathway, drug resistance, natural compound, Mesenchymal stem cells,
differentiation therapy
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Li-wu Fu
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China
Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University
Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Phone: +86-(20)-873-431-63, Fax: +86-(20)-873-431-70
Email: Fulw@mail.sysu.edu.cn
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American Journal of Cancer Research
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