Proposed strategy for the identification of novel CSC surface markers by using hESCs/hPSCs-specific MAbs. Shown is an overall scheme showing a normal cellular hierarchy of embryonic stem cells (hESCs/hPSCs), adult stem cells, and differentaited normal tissue cells. Cancer stem cells can be derived from hESCs/hPSCs, adult stem cells and normal tissues cells. MAbs specific to undifferentiated hESCs/hPSCs, but not to adult stem cells and normal tissue cells, will be attractive tools to discover novel CSC surface markers, since the antigens recognized by the MAbs is highly likely to be present on CSCs, but not on normal tissue cells, in adults.
