Is Cancer Stem Cell the "Messiah of Cancer Cure"?

I am not quiet sure about the role of cancer stem cell in future cancer therapy. Though the points that have been raised in this blog looks very interesting. I am more concerned about the current use of stem cells in various therapies (excluding the allogenic stem cell transplantation). The hES or iPS stem cells researchers do not like to see the negative aspects of their field of research, especially the genetic mutations. In my opinion, before doing any current procedure, stem cell therapy or stem cells based organ transplantation, we should study the genetic mutations of in vitrogenerated stem cells. I agree to some extent with the blogger that we should not use in vitro generated stem cells for any drug discovery screening assays without knowing the complete genetic background. I would suggest sequencing of stem cell genome. This is required for extracting long-term benefits of stem cell research.

Please read the comment posted by John Charles Lacson at Worpress.com: http://sciclips.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/is-cancer-stem-cell-the-messiah-of-cancer-cure%e2%80%9d-2/

Embryonic stem cell therapy treats cancer/tumor by: 1. generating a large number of functional cells to suppress tumor cell growth; 2. generating various immune cells to enhance the immune functions and kill tumor cells; 3. generating newborn functional cells to improve the micro-environment in the body to fight against tumors; 4. preventing metastasis. Cancer is a common and frequent-occurring disease. Malignant cancer is currently one of the most serious diseases that endanger human health. Tumor cells are from the bodyâ??s own cells. Aging cells change their function and modality and lose their connection with surrounding cells. Under the effects of extraneous factors including radiation, chemistry and internal factors including low immunity and genetics, their dominant growth form cancer. Transplantation of Embyonic Stem Cells is the biotechnology to most effectively treat cancer. It doesnâ??t bring any harm to the body. Embryonic stem cells: regenerating a large number of functional cells to suppress tumor cell growth. Normal functional cells are in a variety of connections. Among them, gap junction is the foundation of transmission of chemical signals including growth regulators. However, there are only less gap junctions in tumor, which leads to malignant proliferation of tumor cells and their rapid growth. Through transplantation, stem cells getting into the body reach lesions with the blood circulation. They then produce various functional cells and repair damaged tissues. The newborn young and healthy cells are structurally integrity, have strong function and active metabolism. They can build normal gap junctions with tumor cells, and suppress tumor cell growth by transmitting growth suppressing factors. At the same time, they can restore cell growth cycle and normal apoptosis of tumor cells, and reduce the opportunities of tumor damages to the body and metastasis. Embryonic stem cells: Newborn functional cells improve microenvironment in the body to fight against tumor Normally, microenvironment created by various cells in the body can identify cells with gene mutations (tumor cell) and secrete some growth suppressing factors and differentiation signal molecules. However, microenvironments in patients with tumor are destroyed, directly causing that the body loses its ability to control tumor cells by itself. The transplantation of embryonic stem cells can repair and renew the whole microenvironment. Tongyuan stem cells can proliferate and differentiate functional cells of tissues and organs and repair and promote their physiological functions. Along with the repair and improvement of microenvironment in the body, newborn cells continuously excrete growth suppressing factors and tightly regulate tumor cell growth again. At the same time, high concentration of differentiation signals can act on tumor cells to prevent their growth, losing their hazards to the body. Embryonic stem cells: preventing the occurrence of tumor Tumor occurrence is related to decreased immunity and genetics. When the body is in sub-health or reaches a certain age, the immunity is decreased and cannot immediately cleanup aging cells. On the basis of genetic susceptibility, it is easy to form tumor. Transplantation of embryonic stem cells can produce new functional cells to restore immunity and accelerate the replacement of old cells with new ones, which eliminates the accumulation of and prevents tumor formation from the cell level. Eembryonic Stem Cell Therapy is the best option to prevent disease in people with high cancer risk.