Figure 2

In vitro models of CSCs and their applications. Different in vitro models of CSCs have been created in an attempt to allow a better understanding of the properties of these cells but also of the cancer biology. In addition, these models have been employed in drug screening assays but also in the identification of biomarkers associated with different stages of neoplasia and its recurrence after therapy. Generally, CSCs can be isolated from primary tumours and cancer cell lines based on definite properties, such as expression of specific cell surface markers (e.g. CD44⁺, CD133⁺, CD34⁺CD38^-), resistance to anoikis or to drugs, or possess of a side population phenotype. Furthermore, recent reports have demonstrated the generation of CSC-like cells through the reprogramming of cancer cells from both primary tumours and cancer cell lines.