Development of a fundamental cancer therapeutic agent using an induced pluripotent stem cell derived cancer stem cell model

Abstract

Researchers at Okayama University have successfully created a mouse model from induced pluripotent stem cells suitable for studying the behaviour of cancer stem cells (CSCs) - cells within the tumor that can self-renew and differentiate into different cell types related to cancer - in tumors. Their initial insights clarify the role taken by CSCs in promoting tumor vasculature in the early stages of tumor growth.In order to grow beyond a certain size, tumor cells trigger angiogenesis ? a process by which new blood vessels form existing vessel structures. The tumor cells are considered to activate multiple mechanisms to develop blood vasculature, which then provides the tumor with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow. While the basic processes surrounding tumor growth is reasonably taken well-understood, there is growing evidence to suggest that the formation of the vascular network is based not only on angiogenesis but also on ?vasculogenic mimicry?; the formation of vascular-like channels without usual input from endothelial cells and growth factors.Intriguingly, they found that their model of CSCs contributed to both phenomena by differentiating into the cells forming vascular network by themselves. Not only this, but they keep finding the CSCs differentiating into various phenotypes depending on the microenvironment `Niche? and tissue or mature cell related phenotypes such as pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma.Their way of creation of CSCs is currently not limited to mouse but extending to humans.