Volume 11 in this series discusses therapeutic applications of stem
cells in disease and tissue injury. Coverage includes pluripotent stem
cells, which can give rise to the endodermal, ectodermal, and mesodermal
lineages; multipotent stem cells, which can generate all cells in a
particular lineage and unipotent stem cells, which can give rise to only
one cell type. This volume also examines cancer stem cells,
tumor-initiating cells which possesses the capacity of self-renewal and
can give rise to the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that
comprise the tumor. Coverage extends to molecular mechanisms underlying
the derivation and expansion of human embryonic stem cells, the role of
specific proteins in the maintenance and inhibition of extraembryonic
differentiation of these cells and the role of signaling responsible for
the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells. Nine chapters discuss
the clinical importance of cancer stem cells, encompassing glioma,
leukemia, ovarian cancer, pediatric sarcomas and head and neck squamous
cell carcinoma. The role of cancer stem cells is also elucidated in
epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in spreading head and neck squamous
cell carcinoma. The book goes on to survey therapeutic application of
stem cells of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic origin for
regeneration of bones, including in osteoporotic bone disease; to
illuminate the application of hematopoietic stem cells in bone
regeneration and to discuss their use as a biomarker to facilitate
determination of a treatment. The contributors review cells as
biomarkers for pediatric solid tumors, and weigh the advantages and
limitations of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Also included
are details of neural stem cell engraftment in the injured spinal cord;
the regenerative potential of neural stem/progenitor cells of newborns
and cancer gene therapy potential using neural stem cells. Like the
preceding volumes in the series, this book is distinguished for its
comprehensive approach, its distinguished roster of 58 contributors
representing 10 different countries and its thorough review of
leading-edge technology and methods.
