On the origin and destination of cancer stem cells: a conceptual evaluation.

TL;DRAbstract

Despite remaining uncertainties and ongoing research it is possible to draw up a model for the role of (cancer) stem cells in both the initiation and progression of cancer towards metastasis. The cancer stem cell of origin and the cancer stem cell are, despite phenotypic similarities, genotypically different entities. Given the right circumstances provided by a combination of genomic changes and biochemical and physical interactions with its microenvironment, an epithelial cancer cell may undergo a phenotypic epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) towards a cancer stem cell. This transition conveys upon the cell crucial stem cell-like abilities which facilitate migration into the blood circulation as an individual circulating tumor cell, survive there, and subsequently seed into organ tissue where, once more in close interaction with its microenvironment, the process of clonal self renewal may start, leading to a metastatic tumor. Both in the primary tumor as well as in the metastatic

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper