Cancer stem cells in gastric cancer

Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells are defined as group of cells that have the capacity to self-renewal, initiate tumor growth and metastatic potential. Gastric Cancer stem cell (GCSC) investigations are part of the expanding research field of cancer stem-cell biology of a wide variety of organs. New evidence of several years of investigation, indicate the existence of cancer stem cell. Several data suggest that a subpopulation with a defined marker show spheroid colony formation in serum-free media in vitro, as well as tumorigenic ability immunodeficient mice in vivo. There are information about possible origins of gastric cancer stem cell form an organ-specific stem cell versus a recently recognized new candidate bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC), related to malignant epithelial cells in the mouse model of Helicobacter associated gastric cancer. Bone marrow stem cells has provided enough information to explain stem cell cancer model and has open a wide field in treatment research developing a wide variety of treatment such targeted therapies and bone marrow transplantation in hematologic malignances. Using similar models, interesting evidence have been discovered in solid tumors like colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, although evidence in GCSC is inconsistent, further studies focusing on characterization and identification of GCSC biology may lead to novel strategies in diagnostics and therapeutics that could change the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.