1. [The cancer stem cell: the breast cancer driver]
- Author
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Christophe, Ginestier, Hasan, Korkaya, Gabriela, Dontu, Daniel, Birnbaum, Max S, Wicha, and Emmanuelle, Charafe-Jauffret
- Subjects
Antigens, CD ,Stem Cells ,Disease Progression ,Humans ,Breast Neoplasms ,Female ,Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ,Cell Division - Abstract
Recent research in a large variety of tumors, including breast cancer, has given support to the "cancer stem cell hypothesis". Based on this, tumors contain and are driven by a cellular subcomponent that retains key stem cell properties. These include self-renewal, which drives tumorigenesis, and the capacity to generate cellular heterogeneity. Recently, different techniques have been used to isolate potential breast cancer stem cells with the cell surface phenotype CD44+CD24-/low lin- or expressing Aldehyde dehydrogenase. This model has fundamental implications for breast cancer treatment. The development of specific therapeutics that target this population is an important focus for the future.
- Published
- 2007