Patent ID: 7723112

Claim:
A method for obtaining from a colon tumor a cellular composition comprising colon cancer stem cells and non-tumorigenic colon tumor cells, wherein at least 75% of the tumor cells in the composition are tumorigenic colon cancer stem cells and 25% or less of the tumor cells in the composition are non-tumorigenic colon tumor cells, said method comprising: (a) obtaining a dissociated mixture of colon tumor cells; and (b) separating the mixture of colon tumor cells into a first fraction comprising at least 75% colon cancer stem cells and 25% or less non-tumorigenic colon tumor cells and a second fraction of colon tumor cells depleted of colon cancer stem cells wherein the separating comprises contacting the mixture with reagents against CD44 and epithelial-specific antigen (ESA); and (c) collecting said first fraction, wherein said colon cancer stem cells in said first fraction are CD44 + and ESA + .