CSC niche

The CSC (Cancer Stem Cell) niche is the specialized environment within a tumor that supports and maintains cancer stem cells—rare cells that can self-renew and drive tumor growth. This niche includes surrounding cells, blood vessels, signaling molecules, and extracellular matrix components that provide the necessary support and signals for these stem cells to survive, divide, and resist treatment. Understanding the CSC niche is crucial because targeting it may help prevent cancer recurrence and improve therapy effectiveness by disrupting the supportive environment that sustains cancer stem cells.