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.

From viruses to cancer stem cells: dissecting the pathways to malignancy.

Argyle DJ, Blacking T

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. david.argyle@ed.ac.uk

Cancer is a disease of all vertebrate species and has been well documented throughout history with fossil records indicating that dinosaurs of the Jurassic period suffered from the disease. The Greek physician, Galen is accredited with describing human tumours as having the shape of a crab, with leg like tendrils invading deep into surrounding tissues--hence the term cancer. Today cancer can be defined as any malignant growth or tumour caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division that is able to invade tissues locally and spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream. This is obviously a simplistic attempt at describing a complex disease that can utilize a myriad of biological pathways to sustain growth and proliferation. Dissecting these pathways has been the challenge of cancer researchers for decades in the search for new treatment strategies. This review attempts to condense our understanding of cancer and to offer insights into an alternative theory regarding the existence of true cancer stem cells and how this will inform the development of new therapeutics.

Published 2 July 2008 in Vet J, 177(3): 311-23.
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