Do epigenetic changes influence stromal composition?
Executive Summary of the Tumor Stem Cell & Self-Renewal Genes Think Tank The Tumor Stem Cell and Self-Renewal Genes Think Tank was convened to identify the major scientific issues in the field and provide recommendations to the NCI to help advance research in this area. The participants came to the following scientific conclusions: • Efforts are required prospectively to isolate and purify the tumor initiating cells (T-IC) from a larger variety of hematological and solid tumors. Since many tissues do not have as rich a source of cell surface markers as the blood system, effort will need to be expended to develop the means for T-IC purification. • The normal tissue stem cell is a likely target for the initial carcinogenic insult, because it has the long life necessary for accumulating the multiple genetic or epigenetic changes required for malignant transformation. • Although the events required for malignant transformation may all accumulate in the normal tissue stem cell, this cell do
