Cancer What Are Cancer Stem Cells? They influence how a tumor grows By Julia Knox Julia Knox Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Julia Knox, MPH, is a full-time Data Scientist with Rotunda Solutions, and a graduate student in Narrative Medicine, within Columbia University's Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 15, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Doru Paul, MD Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Are Cancer Stem Cells? Role in Cancer Growth Resistance to Therapy Importance of Cancer Stem Cell Research Cancer stem cells are a small subpopulation of cells found within tumors that are tumorigenic, meaning they can create a cancerous tumor. Self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into diverse cell types are hallmark features of cancer stem cells. They can reproduce themselves and sustain cancer in the body. They are therefore hypothesized to be the primary driver of cancer growth and metastasis. This is called the stem cell theory of cancer. Effective cancer treatment then must target and attack these cells. Doing so can improve the chances of cancer remission. Cancer stem cells have been identified in brain, breast, colon, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate tumors, as well as in melanoma, multiple myeloma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and leukemia. Cancer stem cell research is ongoing, and new studies are emerging frequently. What Are Stem Cells? Stem cells are undifferentiated (or only partly differentiated) human cells that can turn into different types of cells in the body, from nerve cells (neurons) to brain cells. They can also fix damaged tissues. They must possess two major qualities: self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate. Stem cell-based therapies are also being studied to treat serious illnesses such as paralysis and Alzheimer's disease. There are two types of stem cells: embryonic and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from unused embryos and are created from an in vitro fertilization process. They are pluripotent, meaning they can turn into more than one cell type. Within adult stem cells, there are two different types: one type comes from fully developed tissues such as the brain, skin, and bone marrow, and the other is induced pluripotent stem cells, which have been changed in the lab to be more like embryonic stem cells. Where Do Stem Cells Come From? luismmolina / Getty Images What Are Cancer Stem Cells? The stem cell theory of cancer hypothesizes that cancer stem cells are thought to drive tumor initiation and may be responsible for therapeutic resistance and cancer recurrence. Like many areas of biomedical research, cancer stem cells are an evolving field of study. Multiple studies have indicated that insufficient evidence exists to confirm the existence of cancer stem cells. A review of 1,000 Web of Science publications revealed that only 49% supported the cancer stem cell hypothesis. Cell surface markers can be used to identify cancer stem cells, as has been done in research that supports the hypothesis that these stem cells do not respond to traditional therapies such as chemotherapy. This research also supports the idea that cancer stem cells are the source of cancer metastasis. Like all stem cells, cancer cells must have the following characteristics: Self-renewal: When stem cells divide into more stem cells, this process is referred to as cell renewal.Cell differentiation: Cell differentiation is when a cell changes from a less differentiated to a more differentiated cell type. Cancer Cells Versus Normal Cells Role in Cancer Growth Cancer stem cells use specific signaling pathways. It is hypothesized that cancer stem cells can also act as a reservoir of cancer cells, which may cause a relapse after surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy has eliminated all observable signs of cancer. Targeting these cells would thus highly improve the chances of a patient's remission if cancer stem cells are the origin of the tumor. Why Do Some Cancers Come Back? Resistance to Therapy Cancer stem cells have the capacity to change into more specialized cell types, so they can potentially lead to tumor cell heterogeneity. Due to this quality, they are cited as a major factor of chemoresistance. Their highly resistant nature can lead to tumors metastasizing and tumor regrowth. As such, the developing research on cancer stem cells could dramatically change the prognosis of multiple cancer types. Also, many new anticancer therapies are evaluated based on their ability to shrink tumors, but if the therapies are not killing the cancer stem cells, the tumor will soon grow back, often with resistance to the previously used therapy. Importance of Cancer Stem Cell Research Cancer stem cell research is critical because it addresses the potential root cause of cancer proliferation and can lead to the development of more effective and safer treatments. Treatments targeting cancer stem cells will likely have fewer side effects compared with existing options because they will leave other kinds of cells untouched. Understanding these cells can also help modify current treatments for maximum effect. Research has shown that cancer stem cells are resistant to the ionizing radiation used to treat cancer. Understanding this resistance may in the future help researchers find compounds that undermine this process and make cancer stem cells vulnerable to radiation damage. What Are Stem Cells? A Word From Verywell Cancer stem cell research offers promising hope for the continually evolving field of cancer therapeutics, but more research needs to be done to confirm the stem cell theory of cancer. Cancer stem cell research has the potential to generate better treatments for cancer with fewer side effects, as well as to improve the efficacy of current treatment options. If the theory is proven, therapies targeting cancer stem cells may even be able to lower the rate of cancer recurrence. While its existence is still up for debate, it represents an exciting opportunity to advance cancer care and improve cancer survival. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 11 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Yu Z, Pestell TG, Lisanti MP, Pestell RG. Cancer stem cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2012 Dec;44(12):2144-51. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.08.022 Ayob AZ, Ramasamy TS. Cancer stem cells as key drivers of tumour progression. J Biomed Sci. 2018 Mar 6;25(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s12929-018-0426-4 Stanford Children's Health. What are stem cells? 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Published 2019 Aug 18. doi:10.3390/cells8080926 Ayob AZ, Ramasamy TS. Cancer stem cells as key drivers of tumour progression. J Biomed Sci. 2018;25(1):20. doi.org/10.1186/s12929-018-0426-4 Stanford Medicine. What CSCs mean for cancer treatment.