Cancer, stem cell misplacement and cancer stem cells

Abstract

The cell of origin of cancer as well as cancer stem cells is still a mystery. In a recent issue of JCMM, Wang et al. challenged the conventional somatic genetic mutation model of multi-stage carcinogenesis of breast cancer and proposed that 'Invasive cancers are not necessary from preformed in situ tumours-an alternative way of carcinogenesis from misplaced stem cells'. If this stem cell misplacement theory could withstand future experimental evaluation, it may provide a paradigm shift in the prevention and management of cancer in the clinic. © 2013 The Author. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine Published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.