 
        
						William L Farrar
	
					    												Cancer Stem Cell Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, 
1050 Boyles Street, Building 560, Room 21-81, Frederick, MD 21702
Tanzania						                            
                            
						
 Review Article
												Radioresistance and Cancer Stem Cells: Survival of the Fittest 						
Author(s): Lei Sun, Stephanie M Cabarcas and William L FarrarLei Sun, Stephanie M Cabarcas and William L Farrar             
						
												
				 Cancer arises from the accumulation of genetic mutations and aberrant epigenetic modifications in normal cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been described as a unique tumorigenic population of cells within the tumor mass that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate. In the past few years, the existence and nature of CSCs has served as one of the most controversial topics in the field of cancer biology; however, more recently, there is an abundant amount of evidence that demonstrates their existence. CSCs are believed to be responsible for resistance against conventional therapies, such as radiotherapy that contributes to uncontrolled tumor growth, metastasis and subsequently, patient demise. In this review, we summarize the mechanism(s) by which CSCs are radioresistant, including their enhanced DNA damage response, cell cycle status and the role of the CSC niche. Moreover, .. View More»
				  
												DOI:
												 10.4172/2157-2518.S1-004