Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Cancer Biology and Therapy

This book summarizes the latest findings about the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in cancer biology and how this knowledge could be used for novel anticancer therapies. It provides an overview of CSCs in selected malignancies with particular emphasis on hematopoietic neoplasias. It then reviews the role of CSCs in metastasis formation and initiation of cancer relapses. It also examines the dark site of cancer therapy such as conventional cancer therapies that may lead to the origin of recurrence CSCs. Finally, it supplies a brief overview of current concepts that may allow for a selective eradication of CSCs.

Cancer Stem Cells – Fact or Fiction? Cancer Stem Cells of Sarcoma Role of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in the Origination of Mature B-cell Lymphomas The Leukemia Stem Cell CD44 Integrates Signaling in Stem Cell Microenvironments The Dark Site of Conventional Cancer Therapy - Triggering the Origin of Recurrence Cancer Stem Cells Current Concepts of How to Eliminate Cancer Stem Cells Novel Cancer Therapies by Molecular Targeting Distinct Growth Factor Pathways and Drug Resistance-associated Molecules in Cancer- and Metastasis-initiating Cells Salinomycin, a Candidate Drug for the Elimination of Cancer Stem Cells Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Targeting Leukemic Stem Cells by Breaking their Dormancy

Dittmar, Thomas; Zänker, Kurt S.