Multiple Similarities Discovered Between Cancer Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

[xchrom]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120928141100.htm

ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2012) — UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer. The findings suggest that although the cells -- known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) -- show substantial promise as a source of replacement cells and tissues to treat injuries, disease and chronic conditions, scientists and physicians must move cautiously with any clinical use because iPSCs could also cause malignant cancer.

The article, "Induced pluripotency and oncogenic transformation are related processes," is now online in the journal, Stem Cells and Development.

"This is the first study that describes the specific molecular pathways that iPSCs and cancer cells share from a direct comparison" said Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy, and principal investigator of the study. "It means that much more study is required before iPSCs can be used clinically. However, our study adds to a growing knowledge base that not only will help make stem cell therapies safer, but also provide us with new understandings about the cancer-causing process and more effective ways to fight the disease."

Since 2007, cell biologists have been able to induce specialized, differentiated cells (such as those obtained from the skin or muscle of a human adult) to become iPSCs. Like embryonic stem cells, iPSCs are a type of stem cell that is able to become any cell type. This "pluripotent" capability means that iPSCs have the potential of being used in treatments for a variety of human diseases, a fundamentally new type of clinical care known as regenerative medicine.

[longship]

1. That's a real problem with stem cell therapy.

The pluripotent cells are not even as adaptive as totipotent cells (embryonic stem cells). This paper expresses why stem cell therapy research needs to be cautious. If a stem cell can adapt to any kind of tissue, it can also morph into a cancerous cell.

Here's a description of the types of stem cells:

http://stemcell.ny.gov/faqs/what-difference-between-totipotent-pluripotent-and-multipotent

[bemildred]

2. Interesting possibilities, interesting lines of research. nt