Deadly teamwork: neural cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment

Cell Stem Cell. 2011 May 6;8(5):482-5. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.04.013.

Abstract

Neural cancers display cellular hierarchies with self-renewing tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) at the apex. Instructive cues to maintain CSCs are generated by both intrinsic networks and the niche microenvironment. The CSC-microenvironment relationship is complex, as CSCs can modify their environment and extrinsic forces induce plasticity in the cellular hierarchy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Disease Progression
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Glioblastoma / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Nervous System Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nervous System Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Stem Cell Niche / physiology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment