STEM CELL RESEARCH IN CANCER: CURRENT PERSPECTIVES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Stem cell research has emerged as a pivotal field in cancer biology, offering unprecedented insights into tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. This review examines the dual role of stem cells in cancer, encompassing both cancer stem cells as drivers of malignancy and normal stem cells as therapeutic tools. We discuss the current understanding of cancer stem cell biology, their contribution to treatment resistance and metastasis, and the evolving landscape of stem cell-based cancer therapies. Additionally, we explore the challenges and opportunities in translating stem cell research into clinical applications for cancer treatment.

Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for articles published between 2000 and 2024. Search terms included cancer stem cells, stem cell therapy, cancer treatment, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, mesenchymal stem cells, and related terms. Inclusion criteria comprised peer reviewed original research articles, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta analyses published in English. Priority was given to recent publications (2020-2024) while including seminal earlier works that established key concepts in the field. Clinical trial data were obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov and relevant regulatory databases. A total of approximately 200 articles were reviewed, with the most relevant and high impact studies selected for inclusion in this comprehensive review.