Despite decades of effort and a diversity of treatments, cancer is still a disease with poor prognosis. The cancer stem cell theory substantiates this fact that cancer cells have the ability to influence the growth and spread of tumor. It further states that a cancer stem cell can produce other cancer cells. This is because it withstands death due to its inability to undergo complex mitotic processes. This theory hypothesizes its findings based on tumor growth driven by rare subpopulation of cells. The cancer stem cell theory explains the fundamental force behind cancer by investigating its self renewal and cellular differentiation within the core of a tumor. The theory proposes that cancer results from the activation of dormant embryonic tissues (Wilson and Argyle, 1). A cancer stem cell is a tumor cell capable of self renewal. This means that it can reconstruct back to its morphological state of the tumor (Appasani, et al. 60). This theory explains how cancerous cells occur in order to cause cancer. The theory supports the fact that cancer stem cells originate from normal stem cells. It shows a close relationship between the stem cells and the normal cells. The theory further enhances the view that cancer derives itself from a stem cell hierarchy of cells with varying degree of stemness. The acquisition of an immortalized proliferative potential is important for human tumors. This is because telomeres enhance the ability of cells to multiply to a number of growth and division cycles (Weinberg, 433). This substance triggers genetic instability and encourages the formation of tumors. In this case, prescription of anti telomerase drugs is an effective solution. This is because radiation and chemotherapy do not kill cancer stem cells since these cells can mutate and as such, anti telomerase drugs can kill most human cancers.
Works Cited
Appasani, K., & Appasani, R. K. (2011). Stem cells & regenerative medicine: From molecular embryology to tissue engineering. New York: Springer Science Business Media, LLC.
Blacking, T. M., H. Wilson, and D. J. Argyle. "Is Cancer A Stem Cell Disease? Theory, Evidence And Implications." Veterinary & Comparative Oncology 5.2 (2007): 76-89. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
Weinberg, R. A. (2007). The biology of cancer. New York: Garland Science.
