The cancer stem cell hypothesis

The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that within a tumor, a special subset of cells called cancer stem cells drive growth and recurrence. These cells have the ability to self-renew and produce the diverse types of cells found in the tumor, much like normal stem cells do in healthy tissue. They are often resistant to treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, which may kill other cancer cells but leave these stem-like cells intact. This idea helps explain why some cancers can come back after treatment and highlights the importance of targeting these specific cells for more effective therapies.