The authors of this paper found a new marker, CD117, which, when combined with previously known prostate stem cell cancer markers, could identify a single, normal prostate stem cell.
That single stem cell was able to generate functional prostates and was also capable of renewing itself.
"We are trying to first define what is the normal cell compartment that can generate a tissue," Johnson explained. "Once we have that knowledge, is it that compartment that goes awry when cancer initiates? What is the resistant population, and what is regenerating a tumor? Is it the same cell responsible for generating normal tissue?" she said.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on stem cells.
SOURCES: Paul Sanberg, Ph.D., D.Sc., distinguished professor of neurosurgery and director, University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Tampa, Fla.; Darwin Prockop, M.D., Ph.D., Stearman Chair in Genomic Medicine and professor, molecular and cellular medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Scott & White, Temple, Texas; Leisa Johnson, Ph.D., senior scientist, Genentech, San Francisco, Oct. 23, 2008, Nature
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