Scientists Target Tumors' Most Resilient Cells

The Wall Street Journal

In laboratories around the world, researchers trying to understand why cancer is such a tenacious foe are probing a component of tumors known as cancer stem cells.

Scientists have identified in recent years a subset of cells in a variety of cancers that appear resistant to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. A growing number of researchers believe these hard-to-kill cells are a major reason why cancer treatments often fail. In addition, the theory goes, these cells drive metastasis—the deadly spread of tumor cells beyond their site of origin to other organs. Many scientists call them cancer stem cells because, in contrast to most cancer cells, they can self-renew... Read More