Home > Clinical Trials and Research > Cancer Stem Cell Research Home

Stem Cells in Pancreatic Cancer

How do scientists tell the difference between pancreatic cancer stem cells and other cells in the tumor?

There are many types of cells in a tumor, but cancer stem cells have specific properties that help scientists identify them. Only cancer stem cells can divide to make exact copies of themselves, and also make progenitor cells that go on to form all the cell types in the patient's tumor. Scientists look for specific signaling pathways and cell surface markers found in cancer stem cells. The ultimate test is to inject human cells into a mouse whose immune system has been suppressed. If the mouse develops a tumor that matches the patient's tumor, then this supports these cells as representing cancer stem cells.

Updated 3/2011

 

Continue reading about stem cells in pancreatic cancer:    1     2     3     4     5

Back to top

Learn more:
Stem cell research at the University of Michigan
Stem Cells - Explained and Explored

Other stem cell resources:
National Institutes of Health Web site on stem cells

International Society for Stem Cell Research