Just for curiosity. Do cancer stem cells (CSCs) really exist or they are just derived from normal tissues. Can their origin be traced?
Of course they are derived from normal tissues, as are all cancers. Genetic mutations drive oncogenic transformation, usually in a stepwise manner. The cancer stem cell hypothesis proposes that there are some cells in the cancer that self-renew and are capable of forming tumors when transplanted, whereas there are other cells in the cancer that are derived from the stem cells but are more benign and cannot produce a new tumor. There is some controversy as to the novelty and significance of the cancer stem cell hypothesis.
Of course they are derived from normal tissues, as are all cancers. Genetic mutations drive oncogenic transformation, usually in a stepwise manner. The cancer stem cell hypothesis proposes that there are some cells in the cancer that self-renew and are capable of forming tumors when transplanted, whereas there are other cells in the cancer that are derived from the stem cells but are more benign and cannot produce a new tumor. There is some controversy as to the novelty and significance of the cancer stem cell hypothesis.
What about mutations in stem cells converting them to cancer stem cells? This is also a possibility already explored by researchers across the globe.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24452016
http://www.nature.com/nrendo/journal/v7/n10/full/nrendo.2011.127.html
Sachin, the cancer stem cell hypothesis does not mean that the cancer derived from an adult stem cell. Most cancers are not derived from adult, tissue specific stem cells. In leukemia for example, rarely is the hematapoetic stem cell the cell or origin. Most leukemias are transformed myeloid or lymphoid progenitor cells. In soft tissue cancers like liver, lung, kidney, there are no real adult stem cells present that could serve as cells of origin.
Thank you all for providing valuable information. I appreciate your time spending on this question.
Yes cancer stem cell exists. Actually scientists have found similarities between stem cell and cancer cell, like regeneration capability, apoptosis resistance , motility so they termed those cancer cells as cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells origin already traced. This cells originate from epithelial layer where Epithelial Mesenchymal transition occurred and normal epithelial cells turned into motile, invading cancer stem cells
Most adult tumors are derived from epithelium (breast, colon, lung, urotelial...) whereas only a minority are derived from stroma. All the epithelia are continuosly regenerating and reconstructing the multicellular organism shape. This regeneration lies in the existence of tissue-specific stem cells that give rise tu daugther cells with terminal diferentiation (incompetent to divide). The cancer stem cell hypothesis is based on the malignant disrupcion of these cells.
Leukemia, lymphoma and most childhood stromal tumors are homogeneous and monoclonal while epithelial tumors are heterogeneus and multiple mutations carriers. Stem cell hy
.........hypothesis should be applied only to epithelial and heterogeneous tumors ( two different paradigms and disease entities)
Dear Friends,
I have published a paper recently.
it shows the attitude of stem cells researchers.
All the best!
Mahdi.
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