Dr. Hagen Wieland
Team Leader – Research and Development at PromoCell
Introduction
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, with researchers continuously seeking to understand the complex mechanisms underlying tumor development and treatment resistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are at the heart of this research, as understanding this subpopulation of cancer cells may lead to the development of more effective treatments. Although these cells represent only a small fraction of the tumor, they drive tumor progression, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence.
To shed light on this area of cancer research, we spoke with Dr. Hagen Wieland, Team Leader of Research and Development at PromoCell, who shares his expert insights on cancer stem cells and their significance in developing next-generation cancer therapies.
Can you briefly explain the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumor development and how they differ from other cancer cells?
The majority of cells that are prevalent in tumors, such as stromal cells and quickly dividing tumor cells, are non-tumorigenic. Progression and spreading of the disease are driven by a small, highly treatment-resistant, slow-cycling, and sometimes even dormant subpopulation of CSCs.
Figure 1. Tumor Biology: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a pivotal role in tumor biology: The tumor mass is derived from progenitor cells of the CSCs.
Are there any recent advancements in CSC research that you are most excited about?
The scientific community is becoming increasingly aware of the critical importance of CSCs in developing therapies that allow for more effective treatment of malignancies. While non-specific tumor growth inhibition and eradication of bulk tumor cells have been the gold standard so far, research has started to focus on the development of CSC-targeted therapies. The ability to specifically eradicate CSCs could be a universal approach to cure all types of cancer.
From the perspective of a researcher, what are the main challenges you face while working with CSCs?
Since CSCs are a rare subpopulation of the cells within a tumor and lack known specific markers, it is a challenge to obtain experimental readout exclusively attributable to the CSCs. PromoCell’s Primary Cancer Culture System now allows for selection and culture of CSCs from primary tumor samples. However, despite its improved isolation efficiency as compared to traditional media, some optimization may still be required. Depending on tissue quality and quantity, several isolation attempts are typically necessary in order to obtain a successful isolation.
How does PromoCell’s Primary Cancer Culture System (PCCS) support CSC growth in vitro?
PCCS does not work by actively supporting the growth of CSCs; rather, it enriches CSCs through a passive selection process. The PCCS does not support the long-term growth of benign cells, while CSCs are able to survive due to their unique metabolic properties.
Conclusion
The insights shared by Dr. Wieland highlight a paradigm shift in cancer research. Although traditional therapies can eliminate rapidly dividing bulk tumor cells, they do not address the root cause of cancer development and disease recurrence. Because of their unique metabolic properties and self-renewal capabilities, cancer stem cells represent both a challenge and an opportunity in cancer treatment.
PromoCell’s Primary Cancer Culture System offers a useful tool for the isolation and study of these rare cells from patient samples. By enabling the selective cultivation of CSCs without the need for marker-based sorting, this system eliminates non-malignant cells while preserving the cellular heterogeneity of the original tumor. This approach provides a more physiologically relevant platform for developing and testing therapies targeting CSCs.
Want to learn more about cancer stem cells and cutting-edge approaches to isolating and studying them?Download PromoCell's free e-book: Cancer Stem Cells: From tumor formation to therapeutic target.
