Stem Cells and Cancer Therapeutics

Dear Colleagues,

Stems cells are defined as cells with the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into multiple lineages. This definition applies to both physiologic and pathologic conditions such as cancer, although functional differences in these cell populations crucially impact on their behavior. In the case of cancer, multiple experimental evidences support the existence of specific cell populations that are functionally identified for their capacity to initiate and propagate tumors. These cells have been classically called tumor initiating cells (TICs) or cancer stem cells (CSCs) and are supposed to possess stem cell-like properties, including long-term self-renewal, capacity of multi-lineage differentiation, increased resistance to therapy, and the ability to promote tumor relapse and metastasis. As in normal stem cells, essential developmental related pathways such as Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, NF-kappaB, or JAK/STAT participate in supporting TIC capacity. This Special Issue will focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control normal and cancer-related stemness and the tools that are currently available for studying them both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, we will pay attention in how TICs contribute to cancer progression and therapy resistance, and the possibility of specifically targeting TIC in anti-cancer therapies.

Dr. Anna Vert
Dr. Lluis Espinosa
Guest Editors

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