Molecular signals that regulate the regenerative properties of intestinal epithelial cells

大多数癌症死亡是由于癌症扩散到其他器官。一旦癌症扩散到身体的其他器官，癌细胞就会以休眠状态存在，治疗起来就困难得多。休眠的癌细胞逃避传统的抗癌治疗，在它们变回“肿瘤生长”状态之前可以保持很长时间的休眠。了解肿瘤细胞的癌症起始（干细胞）特性如何维持，为消除持续性癌细胞提供了潜在的新途径。这些知识将最终导致更好的管理和治疗癌症，并提高生存率。对干细胞行为的理解也是控制退行性疾病的关键。

Most cancer deaths are due to the cancer spreading to other organs. Cancer is much more difficult to treat once it has spread to other organs in the body where the cancer cells can exist in a dormant state. Dormant cancer cells evade conventional anticancer treatment and can remain dormant for a very long time before they change back to a 'tumour-growing' state. An understanding of how the cancer initiating (stem cell) property of tumour cells is maintained offers potential novel avenues to eliminate persistent cancer cells. This knowledge will ultimately lead to better management and treatment of cancer, and increase survival. An understanding of stem cell behaviour is also central to the control of degenerative conditions.