Final answer:
Cancer stem cells can be distinguished from regular cancer cells based on their behavior in culture. Normal cells stop dividing when they reach confluence, while cancer cells continue to grow and divide. Cancer cells also have deficiencies in cell adhesion molecules and struggle to attach to the extracellular matrix.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cancer stem cells can be distinguished from regular cancer cells based on their behavior in culture. Normal cells stop dividing and form a single layer when they reach confluence, a phenomenon called contact inhibition. In contrast, cancer cells continue to grow and divide, piling up in multiple layers. Additionally, cancer cells have deficiencies in cell adhesion molecules and struggle to attach to the extracellular matrix, which may contribute to their ability to metastasize.