Breast cancer stem cells: implications for therapy of breast cancer

Brian J Morrison¹^,2^,3 , Chris W Schmidt¹ , Sunil R Lakhani¹^,4^,5 , Brent A Reynolds³^,6 and J Alejandro Lopez¹^,2^,7

¹Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Royal Brisbane Hospital Post Office, Brisbane 4029, Australia

²Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan 4111, Australia

³The Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, QBI Building (79) St Lucia 4072, Australia

⁴Molecular & Cellular Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia

⁵Pathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane 4029, Australia

⁶Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Box 100265, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA

⁷School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston 4006, Australia

author email corresponding author email

Breast Cancer Research 2008, 10:210doi:10.1186/bcr2111


Published:	22 July 2008

Abstract

The concept of cancer stem cells responsible for tumour origin, maintenance, and resistance to treatment has gained prominence in the field of breast cancer research. The therapeutic targeting of these cells has the potential to eliminate residual disease and may become an important component of a multimodality treatment. Recent improvements in immunotherapy targeting of tumour-associated antigens have advanced the prospect of targeting breast cancer stem cells, an approach that might lead to more meaningful clinical remissions. Here, we review the role of stem cells in the healthy breast, the role of breast cancer stem cells in disease, and the potential to target these cells.