Biological characteristics and genesis of cancer stem cells / 国际肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Cancer stem cells is a small fraction of cells exist in cancers and own the same characteristics of stem cells. It has recently been shown that cancer stem cells in some tumours contain lower reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels and enhanced ROS defence radioresistance. The DNA damage induced by p53 tumor suppressor protein is associated with self cancer stem cells. We have reviewed the biological characteristics including self- renewal, drug resistance, heterogeneity and so on. As to the genesis of the cancer stem cells,some researchers believe that they arise from normal adult stem cells, progenitor cells or mutation of somatic cells, while others consider that cancer stem cells are derived from cell fusion and so on.