Cancer Stem Cells

The stem cell theory of cancer proposes that among the many different types of cells within a cancer, there exists a subpopulation of cells called cancer stem cells that multiply indefinitely, are resistant to chemotherapy, and are thought to be responsible for relapse after therapy. Cancer stem cells also give rise to highly metastatic cells that spread to other organs and tissues within the body. A deeper understanding of cancer stem cells is leading to better implementation of existing anti-cancer therapies and identification of new approaches that target the cancer stem cells specifically.

The investigators in our department who focus on cancer stem cells research are:

• Alan P. Fields, Ph.D.
• Hugo Guerrero Cazares, M.D., Ph.D.: Neurogenesis and Brain Tumors Laboratory
• Verline Justilien, Ph.D.
• Rachel Sarabia Estrada, D.V.M., Ph.D.
• Peter Storz, Ph.D.: Tumor Development, Immunology and Progression Laboratory