Cancer Stem Cells (Cancer Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatments)

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cancer cells that possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells, specifically the ability to give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer sample. CSCs are therefore tumorigenic (tumour-forming), perhaps in contrast to other non-tumorigenic cancer cells. CSCs may generate tumours through the stem cell processes of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell types. This book presents new research on cancer stem cells including mesenchymal stem cells and their role in tumour progression; Wnt signalling in colon cancer stem cells; genetic and epigenetic alterations that drive leukaemic stem cell self-renewal and others.