Cancer Stem Cells and Signaling Pathways explores the mechanism of cancer stem cell signaling pathways in cancer advancement, serving as an ideal reference guide for investigators with valuable answers to problems associated with anti-cancer treatments and an understanding of the crosstalk among the signaling pathways in CSC regulation. Despite recent advances in tumor therapy and a greater understanding of their biology, tumors continue to be a prevalent and fatal worldwide. According to a novel paradigm in tumor biology, a small percentage of the cells within a tumor known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) are predicted as a crucial population for tumor progression. - Presents cancer stem characteristics and their signaling pathways - Highlights the use of animal models for cancer research, the use of genetically modified stem cells to deliver antitumor agents, and the significance of stem cell signaling in drug discovery - Covers basic and translational research appropriate for scientists and clinicians exploring alternative treatments for various cancers

This book entitled “Cancer Stem Cell Markers and Related Network Path-ways” is about cancer stem cell (CSC) markers and the molecular network pathways. CSCs play an important role in the cancer drug resistance, metastasis and recurrence. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to CSC phenotype. This book covers various aspects of the molecular networks related to CSCs including the important phenotypic change such as EMT. Readers will discover the importance of the identification of CSC markers and EMT-related molecules in CSC network pathways. The CSC signaling pathways and EMT molecular network pathways attract researchers in the field to define the cancer therapeutic targets. Cancer environment is important in the acquisition of CSC phenotype in cells. The revealing of this CSC mystery is across 7 chapters. The topic of this book is particularly relevant to research in the field of cancer and stem cells, as well as the network pathways. We hope that this book helps the readers to be interested in understanding why the CSC concept is important and attractive.

Stem Cells and Signaling Pathways provides mechanistic insights into the role of stem cells to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and other pathologies where a cytokine storm is the cause of concern for e.g., radiation exposure, multiple organ failure and sepsis. The advent of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a global pandemic, putting individuals with other comorbidities at a higher risk of infection. The whole world witnessed a massive shortage of medical and other essential supplies needed to combat the virus. That said, stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment for viral diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19. Interestingly, the clinical trials in the patients having COVID-19 complications depicted faster recovery in patients post mesenchymal stem cells therapy owing to the decreased cytokines levels, anti-viral effects and regeneration of the infected tissue. • Provides a compilation of chapters dedicated to the study of the field with respect to properties of stem cells and their signaling pathways. It also provides detailed information on signaling pathways associated with stem cells.• Provides a detailed and updated view of stem cell biology.• Covers a wide range of areas within basic and translational research appropriate for scientistsand clinicians engaged in studying the treatments for diseases from interdisciplinary perspectives.• Highlights the use of different models for stem cell research, significance of stem cell signaling in drug discovery.

Over the last thirty years, the foremost inspiration for research on metastasis, cancer recurrence, and increased resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy has been the notion of cancer stem cells.The twenty-eight chapters assembled in Cancer Stem Cells - The Cutting Edge summarize the work of cancer researchers and oncologists at leading universities and hospitals around the world on every aspect of cancer stem cells, from theory and models to specific applications (glioma), from laboratory research on signal pathways to clinical trials of bio-therapies using a host of devices, from solutions to laboratory problems to speculation on cancers' stem cells' evolution. Cancer stem cells may or may not be a subset of slowly dividing cancer cells that both disseminate cancers and defy oncotoxic drugs and radiation directed at rapidly dividing bulk cancer cells, but research on cancer stem cells has paid dividends for cancer prevention, detection, targeted treatment, and improved prognosis.

This book discusses the recent developments in the therapeutic implications of cancer stem cells for the effective diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. It summarizes the various stem cells of common cancers including colon, pancreas, lungs, prostate, melanoma, and glioblastoma, and reviews the potential role of cancer stem cells in tissue aggressiveness, examining the functional contribution of cancer stem cells in the establishment and recurrence of cancerous tumors. Further, it explores the potential of cancer stem cells as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of tumor progression. The book also discusses the various approaches for detecting, isolating, and characterizing different cancer stem cells and signaling pathways that control their replication, survival, and differentiation. Lastly, it explores the key features and mechanisms of drug resistance, chemo-resistance, and radio-resistance in cancer stem cells to improve therapeutic rationale.

In recent years, cancer stem cells have been recognized as important component in carcinogenesis and they seem to form the basis of many (if not all) tumor types. Cancer stem cells or "cancer cell like stem cells" have been isolated from various cancers of different origin (blood, breast, brain, skin, head and neck, thyroid, cervix, lung, retina, colon, pancreas and so on). Cancer stem cells - rare cells with indefinite proliferative potential that drive the formation and growth of tumours- seem to show intriguing relationships with physiological stem cells. Specifically, these cancer cells show significant similarities in the mechanisms that regulate self-renewal of normal stem cells. Moreover, tumour cells might directly arise from normal stem cells. Further, the cellular biology of cancer stem cells show a lot of similarities with normal stem cells.

The “cancer stem cell” hypothesis postulates that cancer arises from a subpopulation of tumor-initiating cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs). While the idea of cancer stem cells has been around for more than a hundred years, evidence from the fields of hematology and cancer biology has now demonstrated the critical role of stem cells in hematological malignancies and suggested that these same mechanisms are also central to the initiation, progression, and treatment of solid cancers. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that CSCs exhibit many classical properties of normal stem cells, including a high self-renewal capacity and the ability to generate heterogeneous lineages; the requirement for a specific “niche”/microenvironment to grow; and an increased capacity for self-protection against harsh environments, toxins, and drugs. Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors represents a detailed overview of cancer stem cells and their role in solid cancers. Comprised of 24 chapters, this volume will provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of this important and evolving field. Topics covered include: Introduction of the CSC hypothesis Historical perspectives and the contributing lessons from leukemia Current knowledge regarding the identification and role of CSCs in various forms of solid cancer including breast, brain, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, melanoma, lung, ovarian, hepatocellular, and head and neck cancer Molecular pathways involved in driving CSC function, with a particular focus on the novel convergence of embryonic and tumorigenic signaling pathways In vitro and in vivo assays, model systems, and imaging modalities for studying CSCs The clinical importance of CSCs for cancer management and treatment, including important implications for prognosis, prediction, and treatment resistance Consideration of the controversy surrounding the CSC hypothesis and important unanswered questions in this field This collective work was written by a group of prominent international experts in cancer biology, oncology, and/or stem cell biology. It will serve as a valuable resource for established researchers, professors, health care professionals, and students in the medical and scientific community who are investigating stem cells and/or oncology.