Understanding what stem cells are and the role they play in both healing and disease can feel overwhelming at first, especially when you’re navigating a cancer diagnosis or exploring natural approaches to health. Yet this topic is incredibly important, because stem cells, and specifically cancer stem cells, may help explain why certain cancers grow, spread, or come back after treatment.
At Immunity Therapy Center, we believe knowledge gives patients power. When people understand how cells behave, why tumors form, and what’s happening inside their bodies, they can make choices that feel grounded, informed, and hopeful. Our holistic philosophy aims to support the body’s innate ability to heal, while targeting abnormal cells and restoring balance naturally.
Understanding Stem Cells and Their Role in the Body
Stem cells are the body’s master builders, tiny, remarkable cells with the properties of self-renewal and differentiation. This means they can make exact copies of themselves, and they can transform into different types of tissue depending on what the body needs. These abilities allow them to help repair injuries, support natural regeneration, and maintain organ function throughout life.
There are several major types of stem cells, including:
- Embryonic Stem Cells: Found in early development and capable of becoming virtually any cellular phenotype.
- Adult or Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Involved in bone, muscle, immune, and connective tissue repair.
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Responsible for generating blood and immune cells.
Healthy stem cells live in specific “niches” throughout the body, where they respond to signaling pathways, restore damaged tissue, and keep us functioning. They’re essential to recovery, regeneration, and wellness.
What Are Cancer Stem Cells?
So, what are cancer stem cells, and how are they different from normal stem cells?
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small but powerful population of abnormal cells within a tumor. They share certain stem-like abilities, particularly self-renewal, differentiation, and tumor initiation, but they operate in harmful, tumorigenic ways.
While most tumor cells divide quickly and unpredictably, CSCs can lie dormant, activate, and generate new malignant cells over time. They’re also associated with heterogeneity, meaning tumors can contain a mixture of cell types driven by CSC behavior.1
Research has identified markers such as CD133 that help distinguish CSCs from typical cancer cells, though studies continue to evolve.2 Misconceptions often arise, for example, some believe CSCs exist only in aggressive cancers like breast cancer or leukemia, but evidence shows they can be present in many types of cancer.
In simple terms: CSCs are the “root system” of a tumor. If they remain intact, the tumor may continue to grow or return, even if most cancerous cells have been removed.
Why Cancer Stem Cells Matter in Cancer Treatment
Understanding the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is essential to grasping how stem cell–based therapies may relate to cancer. So how does stem cell therapy work? CSCs matter because they change how we understand treatment and long-term healing. Traditional therapies often target rapidly dividing tumor cells, but CSCs can survive, leading to resistance, relapse, or renewed tumor growth months or years later. This may help explain why certain cancers, including breast cancer, sometimes return despite aggressive interventions.
Recent research suggests that targeting CSCs directly could support more lasting remission.3 Scientists are exploring signaling pathways, immune-based approaches, and therapeutic strategies aimed at CSC regulation and activation control. Early studies show promise, especially in cancers with known CSC markers and defined phenotypes.
This evolving model of understanding cancer behavior gives patients and practitioners new insight into how healing truly works, not just by shrinking a tumor, but by addressing the origin of malignant cells.
Supporting the Body’s Healing Process Holistically
At Immunity Therapy Center, our approach centers on strengthening the immune system, balancing the internal microenvironment, and helping the body target abnormal cells — including potentially harmful CSC populations. While conventional treatments may focus solely on the tumor, ITC emphasizes the whole-body picture: how immunity, inflammation, nutrition, and detoxification influence long-term wellness.
Our holistic methods integrate non-toxic, natural therapies that support cellular repair, detoxification, and immune resilience. Therapies we use include:
- IV Nutrient Therapy: Supplies high-dose vitamins and minerals that support mitochondrial health and cellular recovery.
- Oxygen therapy for cancer treatment: Enhances oxygen delivery to tissue, which may improve immune function and cellular vitality.
- Whole-Body hyperthermia treatment: Uses gentle heat to support immune activation and help target abnormal cells.
- Sonodynamic therapy: A non-toxic approach using ultrasound and sensitizers to support the body’s response to malignant cells.
- Detoxification Support: Helps clear buildup and reduce internal stress, creating a healthier environment for recovery.
These stem cell cancer treatment options align with scientific understanding of cancer stem cells while remaining grounded in ITC’s natural, patient-first philosophy.
If you’re asking, “Is stem cell therapy safe?”, or “How long does stem cell treatment take?”, our team can answer your every question with empathy, clarity, and honesty.
A Hopeful Path Forward
Understanding what are stem cells and what are cancer stem cells helps illuminate a powerful truth: healing is not just about eliminating a tumor, but about restoring balance, strengthening the immune system, and supporting the entire person — body, mind, and spirit.
At Immunity Therapy Center, we’re committed to offering compassionate, personalized care rooted in natural therapies that support long-term wellness. Whether you’re exploring your options, seeking clearer answers, or hoping for a more holistic path forward, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
To learn more about how we approach healing from a whole-body perspective, visit Immunity Therapy Center today.
Written By: Dr. David Alvarez
Dr. David Alvarez is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Xochicalco and Certified by the American Heart Association (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
Dr. Alvarez has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista as an Assistant Medical Director at the Immunity Therapy Center for over 6 years. He provides daily on site patient care and participates on the medical board on research and development of patient treatment plans and programs. Dr. Alvarez is a knowledgeable and compassionate Doctor committed to helping patients get to where they want to be health wise through a more holistic and comprehensive approach.
Sources:
- National Library of Medicine. Identification of Phenotypically Distinct Cancer Stem Cell Subpopulations in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12606748/
- National Library of Medicine. The role of CD133 in cancer: a concise review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6035906/
- Science Direct. Recent advances in bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs): A descriptive review of emerging therapeutic targets. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225009812