Patent ID: 7115360

Claim:
A method for determining the capability of a test compound to inhibit tumorigenesis of solid tumor stem cells of epithelial origin, said method comprising: a) obtaining enriched solid tumor stem cells from a solid tumor of epithelial origin, wherein the solid tumor stem cells: i) are enriched at least two-fold compared to unfractionated tumor cells; ii) express CD44; iii) do not express detectable levels of one or more LINEAGE markers selected from the group consisting of CD2, CD3, CD10, CD14, CD16, CD31, CD45, CD64, and CD140b; and iv) do not express CD24 or express low levels of CD24; b) exposing a first set, but not a second set, of the solid tumor stem cells to a test compound; c) injecting the first set of the solid tumor stem cells into a first host animal and injecting the second set of solid tumor stem cells into a second host animal; and d) comparing a tumor, if present, in said first animal with a tumor formed in said second animal in order to determine if the test compound inhibits tumor formation.