Opis: Cancer Stem Cells - Lucie Laplane

An innovative theory proposes a new therapeutic strategy to break the stalemate in the war on cancer. It is called cancer stem cell (CSC) theory, and Lucie Laplane offers a comprehensive analysis, based on an original interdisciplinary approach that combines biology, biomedical history, and philosophy. Rather than eliminating all cancerous cells-with harmful side-effects for patients-CSC theory suggests that it is sufficient to target CSCs, a small fraction of cells that lie at the root of cancers. CSCs are cancer cells that also have the defining properties of stem cells-self-renewal and differentiation. According to this theory, only CSCs and no other cancer cells can induce tumor formation. To date, researchers have not agreed on the defining feature of CSCs-their stemness. Drawing from a philosophical perspective, Laplane shows that four ideas are in play: stemness can be categorical (an intrinsic property of stem cells), dispositional (an intrinsic property whose expression depends on external stimuli), relational (an extrinsic property determined by a cell's relationship with the microenvironment), or systemic (an extrinsic property controlled at the system level). Our ability to cure cancers may well depend upon determining how these definitions apply to different types of cancers. If you had doubts about the utility of philosophy for science, read this book. Its lucid exploration of stem cells will convince you that even cancer therapy can benefit from the lights of philosophy.--Michel Morange, author of "A History of Molecular Biology"

Szczegóły: Cancer Stem Cells - Lucie Laplane

Tytuł: Cancer Stem Cells
Autor: Lucie Laplane
Wydawnictwo: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674088740
Rok wydania: 2016
Ilość stron: 222
Oprawa: Twarda
Waga: 0.5 kg

Recenzje: Cancer Stem Cells - Lucie Laplane