Introduction to Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer is a persistent public health-care issue of modern life that poses a global challenge. It comprises several diseases that basically involve abnormal cell growth and have a potential to invade or metastasize to other distant organ systems, spreading the disease to other part(s) of the body. Development of resistance to conventional therapies and disease recurrence are some common phenomena encountered in almost all types of cancer. Understanding “hallmarks of cancer” and “tumor microenvironment” is therefore important for development of successful therapy for cancer. Numerous drugs have been designed and tested for their anticancer efficacy over decades to find out a complete cure for this lethal disease, but without desirable success so far. The concept and role of “stem cell” therapy in oncology research have drawn considerable interest in recent years. Thus, emphasis has been given on proper identification and characterization of the “cancer stem cells” and “other stem cells” for elucidation of the signaling cascades involved in the process of cancer limitation and progression (and resurgence). In the introductory part of this book, an attempt has been made to provide an overall idea on different aspects of cancer stem cells, optimization of rate and type of cell growth, and their associative cure strategy by adopting a well-defined scientific perspective.