Lecture 21: Cancer Stem Cells

Question 1

What is a cancer stem cell?

Answer 1

Cancer Stem Cells have the ability to generate heterogeneous tumours with higher efficiency once injected at high dilution (down to single cells) in recipient animals

Question 2

Recall the two main characteristics of CSC.

Answer 2

Question 3

Recall the properties that are shared between CSC and normal SC.

Answer 3

Question 4

Mention the three pathways important in cancer stem cell renewal.

Answer 4

Question 5

Is there a relationship between cancer stem cells and the cell of origin of cancer?

Answer 5

Cancer-initiating cell, or the cell-of-origin of cancer, is the normal cell that receives the first cancer-causing mutations. In other words, the cancer-initiating cell founds a future clinical tumor. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), on the other hand, are the cells that maintain tumor propagation

Question 6

Different __________ may lead to a different tumour type, each with their own stem-like cells.

Answer 6

Question 7

Recall role of some markers in colorectal cancer that plays a role in metastasis development.

Answer 7

Question 8

Recall the phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells.

Answer 8

Question 9

Recall mechanisms of CSC resistance to anti-cancer therapy.

Answer 9

Question 10

Recall the consequence of phenotypic plasticity of tumour cells for therapy.

Answer 10