Cancer stem cells needed for metastatic growth

Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich have determined that cancer stem cells govern metastasis in pancreatic cancer as well as making tumors resistant to chemotherapy. Patrick Hermann and colleagues focused specifically on pancreatic cancer, but scientists in the field say that it's a validation of other research that has identified a specific set of stem cells as playing a pivotal role in advancing a variety of cancers. Cancer stem cells are characterized by the cell surface antigen CD133. A subset of CD133 cells formed tumors and metastases when injected into mice. Compounds that attack these specific cells could play a big role in future anti-cancer therapies.

- read the article from The Scientist