Cancers are aberrant organ systems that display a hierarchy of neoplastic cells including cells that are capable of sustained self renewal and tumor propagation. These cancer stem cells are relatively resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, promote angiogenesis, and metastasize. However, controversies remain as to the relative importance of cancer stem cells and the most reliable methods to identify cancer stem cells. The speakers will provide a diversity of viewpoints from different cancer types of the current understanding of cancer stem cell biology.
Symposium: Advances in Cancer Stem Cells: The Bayard D. Clarkson Symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer

Evolving concepts of cancer stem cells in cancer biology; Jeremy N. Rich. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

What can we learn about self renewal and drug resistance from the isolation of epithelial tumor stem cells? ; Michael F. Clarke. Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA

Functional properties of human melanoma stem cells; Natasha Y. Frank, Tobias Schatton, Soo Kim, Qian Zhan, Mei-Yu Hsu, Hans R. Widlund, Robert C. Fuhlbrigge, Thomas S. Kupper, George F. Murphy, Markus H. Frank. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA

Contribution of the vascular niche to the maintenance of cancer stem cells; Shahin Rafii. Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY,