title: LOH-proficient embryonic stem cells: a model of cancer progenitor cells?
abstract: Cancers are thought to originate in stem cells through the accumulation of multiple mutations. Some of these mutations result in a loss of heterozygosity (LOH). A recent report demonstrates that exposure of mouse embryonic stem cells to nontoxic amounts of mutagens triggers a marked increase in the frequency of LOH. Thus, mutagen induction of LOH in embryonic stem cells suggests a new pathway to account for the multiple homozygous mutations in human tumors. This induction could mimic early mutagenic events that generate cancers in human tissue stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Gottstein Memorial Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195-7705, USA.
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bielas
authors.forename: Ranga N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Loeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008954:Models, Biological; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells