Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells within tumors that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate, and are thought to be responsible for tumor recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies. This book provides a comprehensive collection of methods and protocols for studying and manipulating CSCs, with contributions from leading researchers in the field. The book covers various aspects of CSC research, including the identification and characterization of CSCs, the development of animal models for studying CSCs, and the investigation of signaling pathways that regulate CSC behavior. It also discusses the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulating CSCs and the potential for targeting CSCs with immunologic or genetic approaches. The book includes detailed protocols for isolating and characterizing CSCs, as well as methods for evaluating their tumorigenic potential. The book also addresses the challenges of studying CSCs in human tumors, including the difficulty of propagating human tumors in vitro and the potential for culture conditions to alter CSC behavior. Overall, this book provides a valuable resource for researchers interested in understanding and manipulating CSCs, and highlights the importance of this field in the development of new cancer therapies.Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells within tumors that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate, and are thought to be responsible for tumor recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies. This book provides a comprehensive collection of methods and protocols for studying and manipulating CSCs, with contributions from leading researchers in the field. The book covers various aspects of CSC research, including the identification and characterization of CSCs, the development of animal models for studying CSCs, and the investigation of signaling pathways that regulate CSC behavior. It also discusses the role of the tumor microenvironment in regulating CSCs and the potential for targeting CSCs with immunologic or genetic approaches. The book includes detailed protocols for isolating and characterizing CSCs, as well as methods for evaluating their tumorigenic potential. The book also addresses the challenges of studying CSCs in human tumors, including the difficulty of propagating human tumors in vitro and the potential for culture conditions to alter CSC behavior. Overall, this book provides a valuable resource for researchers interested in understanding and manipulating CSCs, and highlights the importance of this field in the development of new cancer therapies.