U.S. researchers to clinically validate cancer-causing stem cell theory

, researchers at three U.Smedical centers will test for the first time in patients one of the most promising,and controversial theories about the causes and treatments of cancer, the New York Times reportedThe theory is aimed at what some scientists believe is cancer-causing stem cells -- abnormal cells that maintain and spread malignanttumorsAlthough many scientists believe that cancer cells will divide indefinitely and grow,most will die after several splitsBut stem cell themes suggest that,cancer cells may not diethemselves,because they have cancer-causing stem cells to feedCancer-causing stem cells are a particularly dangerous small cellthatcan be separated by a new , produce more cells that make up large tumor Worse, most cancer treatments may not work for stem cells Not everyone agrees with the cancer-causing stem cell theory Scott Kern, a renowned pancreatic cancer expert at Johns Hopkins University, says the hypothesis is more religious than science The debate touched on the direction of cancer research If those who agree with stem cell theory are right, some cancers are promising a cure If critics are right, those who enthusiastically support stem cell theory will go to the dead end, another cautionary tale in the history of medical research Proponents are looking for ways to kill stem cells and say some new drugs may solve the problem "Next year some medical centers will target stem cells for almost every cancer," said Max Viscia, director of the Center for Comprehensive Cancer Research at the University of Michigan The center is one of the institutions to begin preliminary research in the coming months, with two other participating institutions being Baylor University School of Medicine in Houston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Proponents of stem cell therapy say chemotherapy and radiotherapy often destroy most tumors, but if they don't kill stem cells, the root of cancer, it will grow again