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Department of Neuroendocrinology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
SUMMARY
Cancer stem cells are the initiators of both hematological and solid cancers. They have been shown, at least in certain cancers, to be resistant to chemotherapy and have been hypothesized to be the seeds of metastasis. Metastasis begins with an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitates the expedition of harmful cells from the localized tumor. Recent evidence suggests not that existing cancer stem cells undergo EMT and metastasis, but rather that immortalized human breast cancer epithelial cells undergo EMT and acquire the characteristics of cancer stem cells, gaining the ability to establish a tumor. Therefore, the metastasis may be initiated by cells other than cancer stem cells; the very initiation of the process generates cancerinitiating cells that can colonize distant sites.
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