China Oncology ›› 2016, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (8): 699-703.doi: 10.19401/j.cnki.1007-3639.2016.08.010

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Recent advances in breast cancer stem cell phenotypes and clinical application

ZHAO Ning1, FU shen2   

  1. 1.Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China; 2.Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan
    University, Shanghai 201321, China
  • Online:2016-08-30 Published:2016-10-19
  • Contact: FU Shen E-mail: shen_fu@hotmail.com

Abstract: The cancer stem cell theory suggests that cancer develops from a subset of tumor cells that possess characteristics of stem cells. Breast cancer stem cells comprise a sub-population, which possesses the capacity of selfrenewal and the potential for differentiation and high tumorigenicity. Evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrates breast cancer stem cells are responsible for tumor relapse, invasion and metastasis, chemo- and radioresistance and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Herein, this review highlighted the recent advances in breast cancer stem cells.

Key words: Breast cancer stem cells, Stem cell markers, Molecular isoforms, Relapse and metastasis