Review
Breast cancer stem cells: implications for therapy of breast cancer
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* Corresponding author: J Alejandro Lopez alejl@qimr.edu.au
1 Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Royal Brisbane Hospital Post Office, Brisbane 4029, Australia
2 Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan 4111, Australia
3 The Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, QBI Building (79) St Lucia 4072, Australia
4 Molecular & Cellular Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston 4006, QLD, Australia
5 Pathology Queensland, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane 4029, Australia
6 Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Box 100265, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
7 School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston 4006, Australia
Breast Cancer Research 2008, 10:210 doi:10.1186/bcr2111
Published: 22 July 2008Abstract
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.