Cancer stem cells/initiating cells (CSC/CIC), are thought to exist as a small population in malignant tissues. They are resistant to conventional cancer treatments and possibly underlie post-treatment relapse. The CIC population can be targeted with capsid modified oncolytic adenoviruses.
Transplantation Laboratory, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Molecular Cancer Biology Program, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. laura.ahtiainen@helsinki.fi