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Key Findings: i) Research on CSCs is revealing a unified picture on the involvement of these cells in the development and progression of cancer and this has accelerated discovery programmes to selectively target these cells, alongside normal proliferating cancer cells ii) The targeting of CSCs is believed to offer revolutionary advances in cancer therapy and diagnosis. iii) The CSC field is seeing substantial development, investment and new company formation, as specialised groups advance new discovery programmes iv) The targeting of CSCs presents several unique challenges, however a number of strategies have been proposed and are being explored v) It is believed that diagnostic methods based on the detection of CSC’s will have the potential to address key limitations of current methods vi) The first CSC-targeting drug candidates have entered clinical development.

Questions Answered: i) Key research on CSCs and their relevance and impact on drug and diagnostic discovery ii) Global research groups working on CSCs (56 identified and reviewed) leading companies and commercial groups focused on CSC’s (17 identified and profiled) and leading developments iii) The drug discovery pipeline, candidate molecules, stage of development, drug targets, drug discovery strategies, new discovery opportunities, challenges to drug discovery, the challenges of selectively targeting CSC’s in the laboratory and in the clinic iv) Emerging market opportunities and developments including innovation, drug discovery, diagnostics and related areas and v) The identification and review of patents (n=45) relating to CSCs, 1999 to 2007.

The Report: This report provides a comprehensive overview of research on CSCs and the impact this is having on the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to target cancer. More than 50 academic research teams from 13 different countries have been reviewed, together with leading discoveries in this field. This is driving new research programmes and commercial developments. This report has identified and profiled 17 companies or commercially-focused groups, which now are targeting CSCs, to develop new therapies and diagnostics. The emerging picture on CSCs is creating significant excitement and interest in the cancer field and researchers have proposed a number of drug discovery strategies, which are also reviewed. Many scientists believe that the targeting of CSC’s offers important and revolutionary advances in the targeting of cancer. This report gives the reader a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of developments in this exciting field.

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