Abstract
Both stem cells and cancer cells are thought to be capable of unlimited proliferation. Moreover, a small number of cancer cells express stem cell markers, including CD133 and ATP-binding cassette transporters, such as the multidrug resistant protein and the breast cancer resistant protein 1 (BCRP1), by which the cells can pump out specific fluorescence dyes, including Hoechst 33342, as well as anti-cancer drugs, suggesting that either cancer cells resemble stem cells or cancers contain stem cell-like cancer cells, called “cancer stem cells (CSCs).” Using the common characteristics of tissue-specific stem cells, it was demonstrated that many types of tumors and cancer cell lines contain CSCs, which self-renew, express stem cell markers, and form tumors when transplanted in vivo. It was also shown that CSCs are resistant to anti-cancer drugs and irradiation. Taken together, these findings suggest that characterizing and finding ways to kill CSCs is essential for effective therapies.
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