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Cancer Stem Cell Biology Center of Economic Excellence
University collaborators: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (fiscal agent) Clemson University (collaborative partner) About the Center: The Center in Cancer Stem Cell Biology focuses on developing new technologies for isolating, growing, and manipulating cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are adult stem cells that have the ability to reproduce themselves and develop into cancer. The Center will also find ways to use adult stem cells from bone marrow or organs to treat cancer. The work of this Center will generate further understanding of cancer stem cells and ways to eradicate them without harming healthy cells. It could also lead to the engineering of healthy adult stem cells that can replace cancerous cells in the body. The Center will seek to add a repository of adult cancer stem cells to the Health Sciences South Carolina tissue repository for use in further research across South Carolina. Another objective of the Center is to use novel treatments, such as carbon nanotubes, to inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells. MUSC's Dr. Bryan Toole and MUSC Pediatrics Professor Dr. Bernard Maria are studying the use of hyaluronan, a compound that resides on the surface of cancer stem-like cells, as a treatment for glioblastoma tumors. Hyaluronan, along with two other substances, regulates the activities of cancer stem-like cells. They are developing strategies towards a human clinical trial. To date, the Center has received more than $4 million in extramural research funding. Funding level: SmartState Endowed Chairs:
Dr. Zihai Li's Lab Home Page on the MUSC website.
Dr. Luciano Costa, an MUSC researcher for the Cancer Stem Cell Biology & Therapy Center, reviews CT (computed tomography) scan results with a stem cell transplant recipient.
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