Cancer initiating cells or cancer stem cells in the gastrointestinal tract and liver

It has been suggested that cancer stem cells population within the solid tumor with indefinite proliferation potential drives the growth and metastasis of cancer. In literature, these malignant stem cells also named Cancer initiating cells. Cancer stem cells exhibit low rate of division and proliferation in their niche that help them to avoid chemotherapy and radiation. Epithelial cancers are believed to originate from transformation of tissue stem cells. Bone marrow-derived cells, which are frequently recruited to sites of tissue injury and inflammation, might also represent a potential source of malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Pancreatic cancer is one of most common cause of cancer-related death. Pancreatic cancer stem cells have been characterized recently through serial transplantation of human pancreatic cancer cells. The phenotype of Pancreatic cancer stem cells has been defined as CD24(+)CD44(+)CD326 (ESA)(+). CD133 antigen has been also suggested as a potential marker for cancer stem cell in gastrointestinal tract but recently there is also debate in this regard. More recently, other cancer stem cells in gastrointestinal tract, such as colon cancer stem cells, liver cancer stem cells, have been also characterized in their phenotype. These advances clearly will bring the new strategy in cancer treatment and control in the gastrointestinal tract. In this review, the author will discuss the current status and progress about cancer stem cell research in gastrointestinal tract and liver.