Reprogramming cancer cells: a novel approach for cancer therapy or a tool for disease-modeling?
Chromatin dynamics have been the major focus of many physiological and pathological processes over the past 20 years. Epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to be reshaped during both cellular reprogramming and tumorigenesis. For this reason, cancer cell reprogramming can provide a powerful tool to better understand both regenerative and cancer-fate processes, with a potential to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Recent studies showed that cancer cells can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state by the overexpression of reprogramming transcription factors. Activation of transcription factors and modification of chromatin regulators may result in the remodeling of epigenetic status and refueling of tumorigenicity in these reprogrammed cancer cells. However, studies focusing on cancer cell reprogramming are contradictory; some studies reported increased tumor progression whereas others showed that cellular reprogramming has a treatment potential for cancer. In this review, first, the current knowledge on the epigenetic mechanisms involved during cancer development and cellular reprogramming will be presented. Later, different reports and key factors about pluripotency-based reprogramming of cancer cells will be reviewed in detail. New insights will be provided on cancer biology and therapy in the light of cellular reprogramming.
Biomedical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Ankara University, Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ayilmazer@ankara.edu.tr.
Açelya
A
Yilmazer
Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; UCL School of Life & Medical Sciences, University College London, Brunswick Square, London, UK.
Irene
I
de Lázaro
Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey.
Hadiseh
H
Taheri
D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014157:Transcription Factors
Cancer; Cell reprogramming; Epigenetics; Transcription factors; iPS cells