Investigating the properties of cancer stem cells and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in human prostate cancer

In recent years, the cancer stem cell hypothesis has emerged as a compelling but controversial model of cancer progression. Contrary to the clonal evolution model, the cancer stem cell hypothesis postulates that, akin to normal tissues, tumours are hierarchical and only a rare subpopulation of cells, so-called “cancer stem cells” (CSCs), possess the unique biological properties required for tumourigenesis. In addition to tumour initiation, cancer stem cells are held solely accountable for tumour differentiation, tumour maintenance, tumour spread and tumour relapse following therapy. Of late, there has been much evidence to suggest that cancer cells reactivate the latent embryonic programme, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in order to acquire the invasive and migratory properties necessary for the successful completion of the invasion-metastasis cascade. Intriguingly, the EMT programme was recently implicated in the generation of cells with the properties of stem cells in a breast cancer model, therefore, it is evident that multiple populations of CSCs may exist within a given tumour. Since metastasis is accountable for the vast majority of cancer-associated mortalities and CSCs are implicated in therapy failure and subsequent cancer relapse, it is apparent that epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells are of utmost clinical relevance.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Nottingham Trent University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Dunning-Foreman, NL

Language dc:language

en