title: Dangerous entanglements.
abstract: The promise of stem-cell therapy is long-term repair of damaged organs by transplantation. Inoculum size might be a determinant of successful repair, and efforts are being made to improve conditions for ex vivo expansion of stem cells prior to transplantation. A recent article by Damelin and colleagues raised concerns about this approach, demonstrating that stem cells lack the decatenation G2 checkpoint that preserves genetic stability. Cells that fail to disentangle chromatids prior to mitosis are prone to the types of chromosomal aberrations that are observed in cancer cells. Ex vivo expansion of stem cells might have the unintended consequence of encouraging malignant progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA. wkarlk@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D054659:Diketopiperazines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016195:G2 Phase; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054659:Diketopiperazines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; C070899:4,4'-(1,2-dimethyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis-2,6-piperazinedione; D005047:Etoposide; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II