WEB FOCUS

Cancer stem cells

In this focus

Cancer stem cells are defined as those cells within a tumour that can self-renew and drive tumorigenesis. Rare cancer stem cells have been isolated from a number of human tumours, including haematopoietic, brain, colon and breast cancers. The cancer stem-cell concept has important implications for cancer therapy. However, the generality of the cancer stem-cell hypothesis has also been challenged, most recently in a paper by Quintana et al included in this web focus.

Image: Elsa Quintana and Mark Shackleton

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Current Research

Article

Efficient tumour formation by single human melanoma cells

Elsa Quintana et al.

Nature 456, 593–598 (4 December 2008) doi:10.1038/nature07567

Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information

News and Views

Cancer stem cells: Here, there, everywhere?

Connie Eaves

Nature 456, 581–582 (4 December 2008) doi:10.1038/456581a

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News

Melanoma in mice casts doubt on scarcity of cancer stem cells

Monya Baker

Nature 456, 553 (4 December 2008) doi:10.1038/456553a

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Letter

Multi-genetic events collaboratively contribute to Pten-null leukaemia stem-cell formation

Wei Guo et al.

Nature 453, 529–533 (22 May 2008) doi:10.1038/nature06933

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

Identification of cells initiating human melanomas

Tobias Schatton et al.

Nature 451, 345–349 (17 January 2008) doi:10.1038/nature06489

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

Identification and expansion of human colon-cancer-initiating cells

Lucia Ricci-Vitiani et al.

Nature 445, 111–115 (4 January 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05384

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

A human colon cancer cell capable of initiating tumour growth in immunodeficient mice

Catherine A. O'Brien, Aaron Pollett, Steven Gallinger & John E. Dick

Nature 445, 106–110 (4 January 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05372

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

Glioma stem cells promote radioresistance by preferential activation of the DNA damage response

Shideng Bao et al.

Nature 444, 756–760 (7 December 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05236

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

Bone morphogenetic proteins inhibit the tumorigenic potential of human brain tumour-initiating cells

Piccirillo, S.G. et al.

Nature 444, 761–765 (7 December 2006) doi:10.1038/nature05349

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

News and Views

Cancer: Stem cells and brain tumours

Peter B. Dirks

Nature 444, 687–688 (7 December 2006) doi:10.1038/444687a

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Letter

Transformation from committed progenitor to leukaemia stem cell initiated by MLL-AF9

Andrei V. Krivtsov et al.

Nature 442, 818–822 (17 August 2006) doi:10.1038/nature04980

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

News and Views

Cancer biology: A game of subversion

Emmanuelle Passegué

Nature 442, 754–755 (17 August 2006) doi:10.1038/442754a

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Letter

PTEN maintains haematopoietic stem cells and acts in lineage choice and leukaemia prevention

Jiwang Zhang et al.

Nature 441, 518–522 (25 May 2006) doi:10.1038/nature04747

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Article

Pten dependence distinguishes haematopoietic stem cells from leukaemia-initiating cells

Ömer H. Yilmaz et al.

Nature 441, 475–482 (25 May 2006) doi:10.1038/nature04703

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

News and Views

Stem cells: Good, bad and reformable

Viktor Janzen & David T. Scadden

Nature 441, 418–419 (25 May 2006) doi:10.1038/441418b

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Letter

Generation of a functional mammary gland from a single stem cell

Mark Shackleton et al.

Nature 439, 84–88 (5 January 2006) doi:10.1038/nature04372

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

Dynamics of chronic myeloid leukaemia

Franziska Michor et al.

Nature 435, 1267–1270 (30 June 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03669

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

News and Views

Cancer biology: Summing up cancer stem cells

Brian J. P. Huntly & D. Gary Gilliland

Nature 435, 1169–1170 (30 June 2005) doi:10.1038/4351169a

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Letter

Identification of human brain tumour initiating cells

Sheila K. Singh et al.

Nature 432, 396–401 (18 November 2004) doi:10.1038/nature03128

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

News and Views

Neurobiology: At the root of brain cancer

Michael F. Clarke

Nature 432, 281–282 (18 November 2004) doi:10.1038/432281a

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Article

Bmi-1 determines the proliferative capacity of normal and leukaemic stem cells

Julie Lessard & Guy Sauvageau

Nature 423, 255–260 (15 May 2003) doi:10.1038/nature01572

Abstract | Full Text | PDF

Letter

A cell initiating human acute myeloid leukaemia after transplantation into SCID mice

Tsvee Lapidot et al.

Nature 367, 645–648 (17 February 1994) doi:10.1038/367645a0

Abstract | PDF

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Podcast

podcast

For more on cancer stem cells, listen to the 4 December Nature Podcast featuring an interview with Sean Morrison.

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Links

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