Chapter 4 - The progress in the study of reprogramming to acquire the features of stem cells in iPSCs and cancers

Abstract

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from various types of cell reprogramming methodologies. iPSCs are associated with a risk of tumorigenesis because they exhibit the capabilities of self-renewal, hyperproliferation, and plasticity. Moreover, pluripotency-inducing genes are expressed in not only the stem cells but also in a variety of cancer cells. Cancer initiation is mainly caused by the mutations in oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes during the conversion of normal cells, somatic PSCs, and iPSCs to cancer cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs). Thus, the potential risks of tumorigenesis should be increased when CSCs-like cells are transplanted to the bodies of patients. Several methods and systems have been developed for the effective prevention of tumor formation from PSCs, cancer cells, and their derivatives. This chapter discusses the recent research progress in the undoubted correlation between reprogramming and cancer initiation from the standpoints of genetic, epigenetic, cellular, and microenvironmental alterations. Novel technologies aimed at the prevention of the risks of tumorigenesis in PSCs and cancer cells will shed new light on the development of anticancer drugs and regenerative medicine.