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Stem cells are the type of cells which are required for the
maintaining of healthy tissues and especially in those tissues where cells are
continuously in need of replacement. Stem cells are undifferentiated ones which
means that these cells are not specialized like the liver or stem cells. Stem
cells can further divide for the production of the average of one stem and
complete new cell which is known as progenitor cell. These cells can then
further differentiate and form the functioning cells for the specific kind of
tissues where they can perform their respected work. Process of differentiation takes place
through the help of signals which are being controlled by the genes within the
cell along with the other cells as well which are surrounding it.
Stem cells are not just of one kind but have number of
different types which include:
Embryonic stem cells
Somatic stem cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells
Cancer stem cells
Cancer stem cells are like all of the stem cells. These
cells are unspecialized ones and can divide in the process and make them all
new. Along with this, these cells are also responsible for giving rise to the
specialized cells. Cells of this kind are responsible for the representation of
small portion of the types of a cells which are being found in any of the tumor
and can further replicate the tumor cells due to which tumors grow and spread
at different areas and that how from one cell or place tumor starts spreading.
Cancer stem cells are the cells which are considered to be highly resistant
towards the drugs which are being used for its treatment and along with the drug;
cancer stem cells are also resistant towards the radiotherapy treatments. Due
to all these treatments, cancer stem stems therefore can remain behind even
after the completion of the cancer treatment. This is the reason that cancer
again starts spreading in the body and it regrows along the whole body and can
show even worse effects in second cycle.
Cancer stem cells propose a complete new avenue for the
treatment of cancer. We all know that the cancer these days is spreading widely
and it is not only seen in the aged people but in adults as well. If one can
understand these cells than it becomes quite an easy task to target them and
due to this prevention of cancer metastasis and relapse can take place. Many
different evidences shows that cancer stem cells are very crucial in the
formation of any of the tumor. They can not only review themselves but along
with this they can generate different kind of cells which are commonly found in
the tumor. One can treat cancer through the elimination of the cancer stem
cells in the tumor and then treatment of cancer can be done not only in the
specialized manner but in the targeted manner as well.
Why stem cell transplants are being used for the treatment
of cancer?
As we have already talked about the stem cells above, these
cells are considered to be very immature blood cells which are basically found
in the blood as well as bone marrow. These stem cells can further become mature
into all kind of the blood cells. Many of the times people who suffer from a
cancer disease can get themselves treated with the help of stem cells. These
cells can help in the treatment and then curing of cancer.
Stem cells transplants are being used for the replacement of bone marrow that at some time got destroyed through a cancer or the chemo treatment which is being given to the cancer patients.
In some of the cancer kinds like myeloma, leukemia and
lymphomas stem cells transplantation can act one of the important part of the
treatment. Chemotherapy is given to the cancer patients for the treatment of
cancer, in this treatment high radiations are given to the cancer patients
which not only kill the cancerous cells but high dose can also kill stem cells
which further cause the bone marrow to stop working completely which further
stops the making of blood cells in the body which are considered to be one of
the most essential component for living a healthy yet active life. Red blood
cells are required to live. This is the stage where the transplant of stem
cells comes in and plays its part. Transplanted stem cells are helpful in the
replacement of body’s stem cells after the chemo therapy in which the stem
cells got destroyed completely.
Stem cell transplant being done from another person can also
help in the treatment of certain types of other cancer as well other than the
process of the stem cell replacement. Donated cells at time can be found and
can further kill the cancer cells in a much better way than of the immune cells
of any person who ever could have cancer. This whole phenomenon is termed as
“Graft-versus cancer”. This means that specific kinds of transplants which are
being done are actually helpful in the fighting of the cancer cells, as
compared to the simple providing of the normal blood cells.
Important implication of cancer stem cell theory
There is one very important implication related to the cancer
stem cell theory which is that the cancer stem cells are the cells which are
closely related to the cells which are found normally in the human body and
further share many different features as well as behaviors of the normal stem
cells. Other cancer cells which are being produced by the cancer stem cells
should also follow many of the different rules which are being observed by the
daughter cells in the normal tissue. Some of the researchers say that cancerous
cells are just like the caricature of the normal cells present in the body,
they show many features exactly same like the normal tissues but somehow in a
distorted way. If the above discussed fact is true than this can be helpful in
the attacking and identifying of the cancerous cells and malignant cells as
well with the help of normal cells.
References of Research on cancer stem cell
Cardiff.ac.uk. (2018). About cancer stem cells. Retrieved
from https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/cancer-stem-cell/research/about-cancer-stem-cells
Hu, Y., & Fu, L. (2012). Targeting cancer stem cells: a
new therapy to cure cancer patients. 2 (3), 340–356.
Stanford.edu. (2018). The Stem Cell Theory of Cancer.
Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/ludwigcenter/overview/theory.html
Visvader, J. E., & Lindeman, G. J. (2012). Cancer Stem Cells: Current Status and Evolving Complexities. 717-728.
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