What does CSC mean in ONCOLOGY

A Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) is a rare subpopulation of cells within tumors that are capable of self-renewal, generating all the other cell types present in tumors, and propagating tumor growth and drug resistance.

CSCs are important because they can cause tumors to become resistant to traditional treatments. By studying CSCs, researchers can better understand how different cancers grow and develop, allowing them to develop more effective treatments for various cancers.

Yes, there are markers associated with CSCs that allow them to be identified and tracked. These markers include certain surface proteins or metabolites that can be detected through specialized techniques such as flow cytometry or mass spectrometry.

There are several approaches that have been used to target CSCs therapeutically including targeting specific stem cell pathways or inhibitors of stem cell self-renewal. Additionally, immunotherapy strategies may help to eliminate CSCs by stimulating an immune response against them.

There is extensive research being done on CSCs in order to better understand their role in tumor formation and growth as well as developing new therapeutic approaches to target these cells specifically. This research includes examining the effects of particular drugs on genes involved in regulating stem cell self-renewal as well as exploring novel methods for targeting cancer stem cells with immunotherapy or other treatments.