Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been a recent focus for cancer and stem cell researchers.  It is believed that cancerous tumors contain stem cells that can self renew and are often resistant to drug treatment.  Isolating and charactering CSCs have been the topic of several NIH grant solicitations this year, including the stimulus grant rounds.....

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Nature published an article on 090909 showing that a specific type of stem cells, CARNs, for castration-resistant Nkx3.1-expressing cells, may contribute to prostate cancer growth. The normal functions of these cells are to regenerate semen producing tissues that line the inside of the gland.  If their growth is unchecked by cancer suppressors, CARNs may become the source of cancer.  These cells are male sex hormone androgen-independent and maybe insensitive to androgen-based treatment.  This finding would also alter previous theory that prostate cancer originates from basal stem cells that later differentiate into luminal cells; "Instead, CARNs may represent a luminal origin for prostate cancer” said co-author Michael Shen of ....Columbia.. ..University.. ..Medical.. ..Center.... (quoted from Reuers news).....

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The method for identifying these cells used in the paper was genetic lineage-marking, which traced homeobox gene Nkx3-1 expression to rare luminal cells that express in the absence of testicular androgens. 

More to the point Biology News here http://www.allelebiotech.com/News//index.php?mod=article&cat=iPSStemCells&article=78
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