Cancerous stem cells are the focus of a preliminary study that will be launched within the next few
months by scientists at three U.S. medical centers: the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

　Some experts believe that cancerous stem cells play a major role in maintaining and propagating
malignant tumors, while others disagree, The New York Times reported.

　The cancerous stem cell hypothesis is closer to religion than science and proponents are so attached
to the idea that they dismiss or ignore evidence against it, says Dr. Scott E. Kern, a leading pancreatic
cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins University.

　But others say that developing new drugs that target cancerous stem cells may provide a treatment
breakthrough.

　"Within the next year, we will see medical centers targeting stem cells in almost every cancer," Dr.
Max S. Wicha, director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, told the Times.
"We are so excited about his. It has become a major thrust of our cancer center."

　The U.S. National Cancer Institute will provide $5.4 million in funding for cancer stem cell studies.

　"If this is real, it could have almost immediate impact," Dr. R. Allan Mufson, chief of the institute's
Cancer Immunology and Hematology Branch, told the Times.