Stem Cells Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stem Cells, including details on research, transplants, therapy, benefits.

Tumour stem cells and drug resistance.

Dean M, Fojo T, Bates S

Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA. dean@ncifcrf.gov

The contribution of tumorigenic stem cells to haematopoietic cancers has been established for some time, and cells possessing stem-cell properties have been described in several solid tumours. Although chemotherapy kills most cells in a tumour, it is believed to leave tumour stem cells behind, which might be an important mechanism of resistance. For example, the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters have been shown to protect cancer stem cells from chemotherapeutic agents. Gaining a better insight into the mechanisms of stem-cell resistance to chemotherapy might therefore lead to new therapeutic targets and better anticancer strategies.

Published 1 April 2005 in Nat Rev Cancer, 5(4): 275-84.
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