Local scientists believe the controversial “cancer stem cell” is real and studying it could save millions of Americans. On Thursday, at the annual Research Matters conference, scientists from cancer centers at Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland School of Medicine, discussed the problems and successes of ongoing cancer stem cell research in Maryland.

“It’s becoming very clear cancer stem cells do exist, fuel the growth of cancer and escape conventional treatments. In order for new treatments to be curative, we need to take into account the different biology cancer stem cells have from mature cancer cells,” said Dr. Kevin Cullen, director of University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. Dr. Angelika Burger, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, likened groundbreaking cancer stem cell therapies to killing the root of a dandelion, rather than “mowing along to get surface problems.”