Introduction to Cancer Stem Cells: Past, Present, and Future -- Surface Markers for the Identification of Cancer Stem Cells -- The Role of CD44 and Cancer Stem Cells -- Evaluation and Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells Using ALDH Activity Assay -- Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells by Side Population Method -- Self-Renewal and CSCs In Vitro Enrichment: Growth as Floating Spheres -- In Vitro Tumorigenic Assay: The Tumor Spheres Assay -- In Vitro Tumorigenic Assay: Colony Forming Assay for Cancer Stem Cells -- Xenograft as In Vivo Experimental Model -- How to Assess Drug Resistance in Cancer Stem Cells -- Tumor Tissue Analogs for Assessment of Radioresistance in Cancer Stem Cells -- Generation of In Vitro Model of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Via the Expression of a Cytoplasmic Mutant Form of Promylocytic Leukemia Protein (PML) -- Identification and Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells Using NANOG-EGFP Reporter System -- Determination of miRNAs from Cancer Stem Cells Using a Low Density Array Platform -- Assessing DNA Methylation in Cancer Stem Cells -- Histones Acetylation and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) -- Immunohistochemistry for Cancer Stem Cells Detection: Principles and Methods -- Circulating Tumor Cells.

This detailed volume gathers a comprehensive collection of methods, protocols, and procedures used for the identification, characterization, and selection of cancer stem cells. These include surface marker expression, side population, spheres formation, ALDH activity, and numerous others. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and expert tips and troubleshooting advice to avoid potential pitfalls.  Comprehensive and practical, Cancer Stem Cells: Methods and Protocols provides researchers with the techniques they will need in order to pursue vital research into this complex field of study. .