This volume thoroughly examines breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), from basic definitions to techniques for identifying, isolating, culturing, and targeting BCSCs for therapy; there is additional focus on pre-clinical and clinical results. The text begins with a discussion of breast cancer, focusing especially on the limitations of current therapies in its treatment. The subsequent chapters introduce and compare stem cells and cancer stem cells, describe properties and isolation techniques of BCSCs, and examine BCSC-targeting approaches. The text concludes with a discussion of controversy surrounding the BCSC hypothesis and of future research directions. Breast Cancer Stem Cells & Therapy Resistance, part of the SpringerBriefs in Stem Cells series, provides a succinct yet comprehensive overview of BCSCs for advanced students, graduate students and researchers as well as those working with breast cancer or stem cells in a clinical setting.

Cancer Stem Cells: Targeting the Roots of Cancer, Seeds of Metastasis, and Sources of Therapy Resistance introduces the basic concepts and advanced understanding of cancer stem cells, covering general overviews, organ-specific identifications, and their characteristic mechanisms. The book also explores innovative therapeutic strategies in preclinical and clinical trials to target cancer stem cells, remove the roots of cancer, eliminate the seeds of metastasis, overcome the resistance of therapies, and contribute to the eradication of cancer. The book includes contributions from leading, worldwide experts in the field, helping readers embrace new hope in their quest to eradicate cancer with emerging clinical trials on treating cancer stem cells in combination with other therapies. Provides an authoritative and complete overview of cancer stem cells Includes comprehensive coverage of current therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem cells Deepens a reader’s technical expertise in cancer stem cell biology

This book comprehensively reviews the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to anticancer therapies. The initial chapters examine the methods and procedure of the detection, isolation, and characterization of CSCs. It also introduces various epigenetic pathways that contribute to cancer initiation and tumorigenesis, particularly regarding the maintenance and survival of CSCs. It also explores the role of CSCs metabolism and the mechanisms of metabolic plasticity of CSCs in cancer biology. Further, it also presents the implications of CSCs on the origin of tumor heterogeneity and on heterogeneity of the therapeutic response. Towards the end, this book highlights the different immunotherapeutic approaches targeting CSCs with the potential of strongly improving cancer outcomes. This book offers a broad framework to scientists and clinicians into the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer stem cell biology and highlights their therapeutic implications. ​

Amazing anticancer therapy advancements have been made in the last decade due to tremendous innovations. Nonetheless, drug resistance remains a major challenge that limits the effectiveness of anticancer therapies, causing cancer recurrence and metastasis and being a major cause of cancer-related death. Drug resistance can be caused by complex molecular mechanisms such as gene mutations, epigenetic dysregulation, microenvironment alterations, etc. Many clinical strategies, including combination therapies and epigenetic drugs, have been used to avoid or reverse drug resistance effectively. However, the progression of cancers (in patients under treatment) or the lack of response of cancer patients indicate that current approaches to overcome resistance are far from sufficient, and more work is needed.

This book is a continuum of the first two books published in the STEM CELLS series entitled "Stem Cells: From Drug to Drug Discovery" and "Stem Cells: From Hype to Real Hope" which were published in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The scope of the book encompasses a wide range of topics with a latitude from adult stem cells to pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine either alone or as part of the combinatorial therapeutic intervention approach as "drug" besides their application as tools (disease model) during drug development process. Written by a leading group of researchers, the book encompasses experimental to clinical aspects of stem/progenitors cells, their biology, and characteristics.

This book presents a comprehensive discussion on the heterogeneity existing between different types of stem cells within the same tissue, for several types of cancers, e.g. glioblastoma stem cells. Recent developments have revealed completely different roles of distinct stem cells within the same organ. Thus, Stem Cells Heterogeneity in Cancer provides a timely update us on the current information on stem cells heterogeneity in various tissues. It also provides a solid foundation of the history of stem cells from specific tissues and the current applications of this knowledge in regenerative medicine. When taken as a whole, alongside its companion volumes Stem Cells Heterogeneity – Novel Concepts, and Stem Cells Heterogeneity in Different Organs, these three books present a comprehensive reference on stem cell heterogeneity in various tissues and current and future applications for regenerative medicine. It is essential reading for advanced cell biology students as well as researchers in stem cells and clinicians.

Cancer Stem Cells and Signaling Pathways explores the mechanism of cancer stem cell signaling pathways in cancer advancement, serving as an ideal reference guide for investigators with valuable answers to problems associated with anti-cancer treatments and an understanding of the crosstalk among the signaling pathways in CSC regulation. Despite recent advances in tumor therapy and a greater understanding of their biology, tumors continue to be a prevalent and fatal worldwide. According to a novel paradigm in tumor biology, a small percentage of the cells within a tumor known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) are predicted as a crucial population for tumor progression. - Presents cancer stem characteristics and their signaling pathways - Highlights the use of animal models for cancer research, the use of genetically modified stem cells to deliver antitumor agents, and the significance of stem cell signaling in drug discovery - Covers basic and translational research appropriate for scientists and clinicians exploring alternative treatments for various cancers

The “cancer stem cell” hypothesis postulates that cancer arises from a subpopulation of tumor-initiating cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs). While the idea of cancer stem cells has been around for more than a hundred years, evidence from the fields of hematology and cancer biology has now demonstrated the critical role of stem cells in hematological malignancies and suggested that these same mechanisms are also central to the initiation, progression, and treatment of solid cancers. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that CSCs exhibit many classical properties of normal stem cells, including a high self-renewal capacity and the ability to generate heterogeneous lineages; the requirement for a specific “niche”/microenvironment to grow; and an increased capacity for self-protection against harsh environments, toxins, and drugs. Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors represents a detailed overview of cancer stem cells and their role in solid cancers. Comprised of 24 chapters, this volume will provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of this important and evolving field. Topics covered include: Introduction of the CSC hypothesis Historical perspectives and the contributing lessons from leukemia Current knowledge regarding the identification and role of CSCs in various forms of solid cancer including breast, brain, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, melanoma, lung, ovarian, hepatocellular, and head and neck cancer Molecular pathways involved in driving CSC function, with a particular focus on the novel convergence of embryonic and tumorigenic signaling pathways In vitro and in vivo assays, model systems, and imaging modalities for studying CSCs The clinical importance of CSCs for cancer management and treatment, including important implications for prognosis, prediction, and treatment resistance Consideration of the controversy surrounding the CSC hypothesis and important unanswered questions in this field This collective work was written by a group of prominent international experts in cancer biology, oncology, and/or stem cell biology. It will serve as a valuable resource for established researchers, professors, health care professionals, and students in the medical and scientific community who are investigating stem cells and/or oncology.