Abstract

The present article highlights diverse roles of stem cells in healthy state, oncology and regenerative medicine in comparison to the Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) “stem cells”. Furthermore, we support the notion of urgent need to change the terminology of “cancer stem cells” into tumor-propagating cells (TPCs), and to diversify terms of kidney stem and kidney progenitor cell. We present the role of normal stem and progenitor cells in kidney development and regeneration in comparison to their markers. Moreover, we would like to introduce a hypothesis about the TPCs origin, and the role epithelial to mesenchymal transition in metastasis. We described current knowledge about various approaches to identification of renal TPCs. Finally, we present future perspectives in respect to current studies.

Keywords: Cancer stem cells, ccRCC, stem cells, tumor-propagating cells.