The Center for Genetic Medicine of Northwestern University welcomes you to attend the Silverstein Lecture Series on May 21 (Chicago) and May 22 (Evanston), featuring Max S. Wicha, MD, Distinguished Professor of Oncology and Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Why do tumors reemerge in so many cancer patients? Current cancer treatments target the cells that make up the bulk of a tumor, but may miss the cells that cause metastasis and relapse. Recent evidence suggests that many cancers, including breast cancer, are driven by a small subpopulation of “cancer stem cells" that are relatively resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Wicha will discuss the “cancer stem cell” model and its implications to the biology and treatment of tumors, including the early clinical trials of treatments that specifically target cancer stem cells.