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Review
. 2017 Jun;50(6):285-298.
doi: 10.5483/bmbrep.2017.50.6.039.

Cancer stem cell surface markers on normal stem cells

Won-Tae Kim  1 , Chun Jeih Ryu  1
Affiliations
Review

Cancer stem cell surface markers on normal stem cells

Won-Tae Kim et al. BMB Rep. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has captured the attention of many scientists. It is believed that elimination of CSCs could possibly eradicate the whole cancer. CSC surface markers provide molecular targeted therapies for various cancers, using therapeutic antibodies specific for the CSC surface markers. Various CSC surface markers have been identified and published. Interestingly, most of the markers used to identify CSCs are derived from surface markers present on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or adult stem cells. In this review, we classify the currently known 40 CSC surface markers into 3 different categories, in terms of their expression in hESCs, adult stem cells, and normal tissue cells. Approximately 73% of current CSC surface markers appear to be present on embryonic or adult stem cells, and they are rarely expressed on normal tissue cells. The remaining CSC surface markers are considerably expressed even in normal tissue cells, and some of them have been extensively validated as CSC surface markers by various research groups. We discuss the significance of the categorized CSC surface markers, and provide insight into why surface markers on hESCs are an attractive source to find novel surface markers on CSCs. [BMB Reports 2017; 50(6): 285-298].

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicting financial interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Proposed strategy for the identification of novel CSC surface markers by using hESCs/hPSCs-specific MAbs. Shown is an overall scheme showing a normal cellular hierarchy of embryonic stem cells (hESCs/hPSCs), adult stem cells, and differentaited normal tissue cells. Cancer stem cells can be derived from hESCs/hPSCs, adult stem cells and normal tissues cells. MAbs specific to undifferentiated hESCs/hPSCs, but not to adult stem cells and normal tissue cells, will be attractive tools to discover novel CSC surface markers, since the antigens recognized by the MAbs is highly likely to be present on CSCs, but not on normal tissue cells, in adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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