Reprogramming cancer cells: overview & current progress

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cancer is a disease with genetic and epigenetic origins, and the possible effects of reprogramming cancer cells using the defined sets of transcription factors remain largely uninvestigated. In the handful of publications available so far, findings have shown that reprogramming cancer cells changed the characteristics of the cells to differ from the parental cancer cells. These findings indicated the possibility of utilizing reprogramming technology to create a disease model in the laboratory to be used in studying the molecular pathogenesis or for drug screening of a particular cancer model.

Areas covered: Despite numerous methods employed in generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from cancer cells only a few studies have successfully reprogrammed malignant human cells. In this review we will provide an overview on i) methods to reprogram cancer cells, ii) characterization of the reprogrammed cancer cells, and iii) the differential effects of reprogramming on malignancy, epigenetics and response of the cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Expert opinion: Continued technical progress in cancer cell reprogramming technology will be instrumental for more refined in vitro disease models and ultimately for the development of directed and personalized therapy for cancer patients in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• iPSC
• iPC
• pluripotent
• reprogramming cancer cells
• stem cells

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Corrigendum

Article highlights

• Different cancer cell types, delivery approaches, and factors used play a role in determining the success of cancer cells reprogramming.

• Characterizing the reprogrammed cancer cells is crucial not only to determine the authenticity of the colonies but also to apply the correct terminology to the pluripotent colonies to ensure dissemination of accurate information among scientific communities.

• A series of standard characterization assays should preferably be employed in all reprogramming research for comprehensive characterization on the reprogrammed cancer cells and to allow objective comparison of different iPSC lines.

• Reprogramming cancer cells to pluripotent state is important in order to provide better understanding on the molecular mechanisms governing the pathogenesis of human cancer.

• Conflicting outcome on the oncogenic status of the cancer cells post-reprogramming is discussed.

• Possibility of utilizing iPSC technology to create in vitro disease model to study molecular pathogenesis or for drug screening which may lead to personalized therapy for cancer patients in the future.

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Declaration of interest

This work is supported by HIR-MoE Grant (Reference number - UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/CHAN/03, account number - A000003-50001). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.