Cancer STEM cells true cause of cancer and researchers missing the ball?

What do you think? 1994 Researchers discovered the cancer stem cell in AML (leukemia). Other researchers did not believe it. Since then, about 15 cancers have been found to have cancer stem cells. Now the cancer stem cell is the cell that produces the cancer cell. Treatments for the last 30-40 years target only the cancer cells, missing the stem cell altogether. This may be why you get complete remissions in cancer (no cancer cells), but then the cancer returns because the cancer stem cell remains to regrow the cancer cells. Research is proving this out at Stanford, U Toronto, U Mich. and Hopkins. Yet other research centers and doctors have not picked up on this idea. This is akin to malpractice perhaps. Clinical trials will be coming out to target the cancer stem cells, and if you get some cures, then there will be a complete shift in thinking. Too bad it has taken 40 years.

Cancer STEM cells true cause of cancer and researchers missing the ball?
Thank you for the information. This proves once again to me that I am here to have some fun and gain some knowledge. It makes sense. Cancer is rampant in my family. It's the one disease I dread more than any other.
Reply:Thanks for choosing my answer as the best and more than that thanks again for the information......Ed Report Abuse

Reply:It's starting to look like cancer stem cells are the key to treating cancer. However, you must realize science (not just medicine) has always been a learning process. There are and have been many brillant people working on cancer research. If you think it's common sense, you should get your BS, MS, and PhD in biology or chemistry and see for yourself.
Reply:Even if this is true, you still have not addressed the key issue. What is causing the stem cell to become a cancer cell????? This really changes very little in the battle against cancer. The PROCESS of carcinogenesis is still the challenge that needs to be understood and addressed. Whether carcinogenesis drives a stem cell or a differentiated cell to become cancerous, the process still is the problem.
Reply:All science is built upon failures...that's the process
Reply:Medicine is a tough subject. What we as general public might think is correct and what the doctors think is correct can be shot down in a second by the FDA. No one knows for sure where treatments get stopped. Insurance companies won't pay for 'Experimental', FDA won't approve without years and years of trials, researchers run out of money before they get to finish.............this is hard for everyone!

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