Abstract
Featured Article: Hermann PC, Huber SL, Herrler T, Aicher A, Ellwart JW, Guba M, et al. Distinct populations of cancer stem cells determine tumor growth and metastatic activity in human pancreatic cancer. Cell Stem Cell 2007;1:313–23.2 In 2003, Al-Hajj and colleagues demonstrated the existence and biological relevance of cancer stem cells (CSCs)3 in breast cancer, and thus for the first time in solid tumors (1). Then in 2007, our team (featured article) and a team from the US (2) independently reported the existence and functional features of CSCs in primary human pancreatic tumors. Interestingly, we not only demonstrated the existence of a CD133+ CSC population and its exclusive tumorigenicity but also described for the first time the inherent resistance of these cells to chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Most interesting, however, was our discovery that CD133+ CSCs were by no means a homogeneous population with respect to their functional properties. On the basis of the observation …
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