Tumor Initiating Cells

Tumor initiating cells (TICs), also known as cancer stem cells, are a small subset of cells within a tumor that have the ability to self-renew and generate new cancer cells. They are thought to drive tumor growth, spread, and relapse after treatment. Unlike most cancer cells, TICs can survive therapies that kill other tumor cells, which makes them a focus of cancer research. Understanding TICs helps researchers develop more effective treatments aimed at eliminating these root-like cells to prevent cancer from returning.