Cancer stem cell biology is the study of a subpopulation of cells within tumors that possess stem cell-like properties and are proposed to drive tumor initiation, growth, and recurrence. Cancer stem cells are defined functionally by their capacity for self-renewal, which perpetuates the malignant population, and for…
Cancer stem cell biology is the study of a subpopulation of cells within tumors that possess stem cell-like properties and are proposed to drive tumor initiation, growth, and recurrence. Cancer stem cells are defined functionally by their capacity for self-renewal, which perpetuates the malignant population, and for differentiation, which generates the heterogeneous bulk of non-tumorigenic cells that make up most of a tumor. According to this model, such cells can regenerate an entire tumor and contribute to its hierarchical organization, distinguishing them from the broader cell mass. Their identification relies on functional assays, including the ability to form tumors upon transplantation into immunodeficient hosts, alongside the use of surface markers and characteristic signaling activity. Cancer stem cells are implicated in several clinically important phenomena: resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, often attributed to quiescence, enhanced DNA repair, and drug-efflux mechanisms; metastatic dissemination; and disease relapse after apparently effective treatment. Conserved developmental pathways governing normal stem cell behavior are frequently dysregulated in these cells and represent potential therapeutic targets. In haematological and solid malignancies alike, including leukaemias and tumors studied in experimental models, the concept informs efforts to design therapies that eliminate the cells responsible for sustaining and reseeding cancer. Research continues to refine their identity, plasticity, and clinical significance, with the aim of achieving more durable treatment responses.
5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 5 articles above have been cited 8 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Cancer Stem Cell Biology, linking to each citing work.