Current Approaches in Identification and Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells Publisher Pubmed



Akbarzadeh M^{1, 2} ; Maroufi NF^{2, 3} ; Tazehkand AP² ; Akbarzadeh M^{1, 2} ; Bastani S¹ ; Safdari R⁵ ; Farzane A⁵ ; Fattahi A^{2, 6} ; Nejabati HR^{2, 7} ; Nouri M^{1, 2} ; Samadi N² Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology Published:2019

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are tumor cells with initiating ability, self-renewal potential, and intrinsic resistance to conventional therapeutics. Efficient isolation and characterization of CSCs pave the way for more comprehensive knowledge about tumorigenesis, heterogeneity, and chemoresistance. Also a better understanding of CSCs will lead to novel era of both basic and clinical cancer research, reclassification of human tumors, and development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Finding novel diagnostic and effective therapeutic strategies also enhance the success of treatment in cancer patients. There are various methods based on the characteristics of the CSCs to detect and isolate these cells, some of which have recently developed. This review summarized current techniques for effective isolation and characterization of CSCs with a focus on advantages and limitations of each method with clinical applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.