Epithelial stem cells and malignancy

摘要: The renewal of normal epithelia depends on a small sub-population cells, termed somatic stem whose primary characteristic is an ability for indefinite self-renewal. Evidence accumulating that the growth tumours similarly malignant often tumour-initiating cells. Tumour-initiating sub-populations within solid have been identified by their cell surface expression various phenotypic markers and to regenerate in immune-deficient mice. Cells with such clonogenic abilities differ consistently from remainder population cellular properties as size, adhesiveness, dye exclusion, patterns gene expression. Sub-populations cells freshly isolated also show differing molecules related maintenance asymmetric division. As ultimately responsible tumour renewal, appear form necessary target therapy but some findings indicate greater resistance these induction apoptotic death potential failure respond effectively standard therapeutic procedures. Of particular interest, similar those vivo persist lines resistance. Cell may thus provide model analysis be useful development appropriate methods elimination.