Editorial
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World J Stem Cells. Sep 26, 2011; 3(9): 83-88
Published online Sep 26, 2011. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v3.i9.83
Convergence of normal stem cell and cancer stem cell developmental stage: Implication for differential therapies
Shengwen Calvin Li, Katherine L Lee, Jane Luo, Jiang F Zhong, William G Loudon
Shengwen Calvin Li, Katherine L Lee, William G Loudon, Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Stem Cell Research, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, University of California Irvine, 455 South Main Street, Orange, CA 92868, United States
Jane Luo, Beckman Coulter, Inc., 250 South Kraemer Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821, United States
Jiang F Zhong, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
William G Loudon, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA 92862, United States
Author contributions: Li SC drafted the manuscript; Li SC, Lee KL, Luo J, Zhong JF and Loudon WG revised the paper.
Supported by CHOC Children’s Foundation and CHOC Neuroscience Institute (to Li SC); Austin Ford Tribute Fund; and the W. M. Keck Foundation (to Li SC); Grant R21CA134391 from the National Institutes of Health, and Grant AW 0852720 from the National Science Foundation (to Zhong JF)
Correspondence to: Shengwen Calvin Li, PhD, Head, Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Stem Cell Research, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, University of California Irvine, 455 South Main Street, Orange, CA 92868, United States. shengwel@uci.edu
Telephone: +1-714-2894964 Fax: +1-718-5164318
Received: May 28, 2011
Revised: September 16, 2011
Accepted: September 21, 2011
Published online: September 26, 2011
Abstract

Increased evidence shows that normal stem cells may contribute to cancer development and progression by acting as cancer-initiating cells through their interactions with abnormal environmental elements. We postulate that normal stem cells and cancer stem cells (CSC) possess similar mechanisms of self-renewal and differentiation. CSC can be the key to the elaboration of anti-cancer-based therapy. In this article, we focus on a controversial new theme relating to CSC. Tumorigenesis may have a critical stage characterized as a “therapeutic window”, which can be identified by association of molecular, biochemical and biological events. Identifying such a stage can allow the production of more effective therapies (e.g. manipulated stem cells) to treat several cancers. More importantly, confirming the existence of a similar therapeutic window during the conversion of normal stem cells to malignant CSC may lead to targeted therapy specifically against CSC. This conversion information may be derived from investigating the biological behaviour of both normal stem cells and cancerous stem cells. Currently, there is little knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the initiation and maintenance of CSC. Studies on co-evolution and interdependence of cancer with normal tissues may lead to a useful treatment paradigm of cancer. The crosstalk between normal stem cells and cancer formation may converge developmental stages of different types of stem cells (e.g. normal stem cells, CSC and embryonic stem cells). The differential studies of the convergence may result in novel therapies for treating cancers.

Keywords: Neural stem cell; Cancer stem cell; Convergence; Therapeutic