Minireview: PTEN, SC , and CSC

PTEN, stem cells, and cancer stem cells by Reginald Hill and Hong Wu, J Biol Chem 2008(Dec 30) [Epub ahead of print]. [Accepted Manuscript] PubMed Abstract:

Like normal stem cells, "cancer stem cells" (CSCs) have the capacity for indefinite proliferation and generation of new cancerous tissues through self-renewal and differentiation. Among the major intracellular signaling pathways, Wnt, Shh, and Notch are known to be important in regulating normal stem cell activities and their alterations are associated with tumorigenesis. It has become clear recently that phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is also critical for stem cell maintenance and that PTEN loss can cause the development of CSCs and ultimately tumorigenesis.