Figure 2.

A CSC will produce daughter cells forming a tumour. In path A, conventional treatments are administered. These target the rapidly dividing daughter cells, but have no effect on the CSC due to their resistance mechanisms and possible relative quiescence. Once the cancer treatments are withdrawn, the unaffected CSC repopulates the tumour bulk with likely improved resistance. Path B shows administration of CSC targeting therapies. These treatments eliminate the CSCs and the tumour, having lost its tumorigenic cells will reduce in size as the daughter cells are not replenished. This could lead to curative therapies.