Tumor Initiating Cells, Cell Cycle Control and Cancer Stem Cells

Stochastic versus hierarchical models of cancer
Primary tumors
Transplantation
Secondary tumors
Stochastic: all cells
have the capacity
to induce tumors but
the process is not efficient
(e.g. most cell die after
transplantation)
Hierarchical: only a small fraction
of tumor cells – cancer stem cells/
tumor initiating cells – is capable
of inducing tumors.