Breast Cancer Stem Cells & Therapy Resistance

This volume thoroughly examines breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), from basic definitions to techniques for identifying, isolating, culturing, and targeting BCSCs for therapy; there is additional focus on pre-clinical and clinical results. The text begins with a discussion of breast cancer, focusing especially on the limitations of current therapies in its treatment. The subsequent chapters introduce and compare stem cells and cancer stem cells, describe properties and isolation techniques of BCSCs, and examine BCSC-targeting approaches. The text concludes with a discussion of controversy surrounding the BCSC hypothesis and of future research directions. Breast Cancer Stem Cells & Therapy Resistance, part of the SpringerBriefs in Stem Cells series, provides a succinct yet comprehensive overview of BCSCs for advanced students, graduate students and researchers as well as those working with breast cancer or stem cells in a clinical setting.

Phuc Van Pham received his Ph.D. in Human Physiology from Vietnam National University, Vietnam in 2007. He is currently a Professor of Biology at the University of Science, Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Acting Director of the Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Application. He is a longstanding lecturer and translational scientist at the University, and is a member of several societies and journal editorial boards focused on stem cells.

Dr. Pham and his colleagues have established one of the first multidisciplinary stem cell centers in Vietnam, and he has successfully launched an array of technologies in stem cell isolations. His research interests include stem cell isolation, stem cell therapy, mesenchymal stem cells, cancer stem cells, immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. He has published extensively in these areas.

After many years of experience as an embryologist, cell biologist, and molecular biologist, collaborating with leading researchers in Singapore, Japan, and the United States, Dr. Pham is a student again, keen to reach beyond the traditional boundaries of biology.