Method to Convert Stem Cells into Cancer Stem Cells

Said  M. Afify; Ling Chen; Ting Yan; Anna Sanchez Calle; Neha Nair; Chikae Murakami; Maram  H. Zahra; Nobuhiro Okada; Yoshiaki Iwasaki; Akimasa Seno; Masahura Seno

doi:10.3390/mps2030071

Methods and Protocols (Aug 2019)

Method to Convert Stem Cells into Cancer Stem Cells

Said M. Afify,
Ling Chen,
Ting Yan,
Anna Sanchez Calle,
Neha Nair,
Chikae Murakami,
Maram H. Zahra,
Nobuhiro Okada,
Yoshiaki Iwasaki,
Akimasa Seno,
Masahura Seno

Affiliations

Said M. Afify: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Ling Chen: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Ting Yan: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Anna Sanchez Calle: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Neha Nair: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Chikae Murakami: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Maram H. Zahra: Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Nobuhiro Okada: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Yoshiaki Iwasaki: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Akimasa Seno: Okayama University Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering in Detroit, IBio, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Masahura Seno: Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/mps2030071
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 3
p. 71

Abstract

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The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis suggests that tumors are sustained exclusively by a small population of the cells with stem cell properties. CSCs have been identified in most tumors and are responsible for the initiation, recurrence, and resistance of different cancers. In vitro CSC models will be of great help in revisiting the mechanism of cancer development, as well as the tumor microenvironment and the heterogeneity of cancer and metastasis. Our group recently described the generation of CSCs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which were reprogrammed from normal cells, and/or embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This procedure will improve the understanding of the essential niche involved in cancer initiation. The composition of this cancer-inducing niche, if identified, will let us know how normal cells convert to malignant in the body and how, in turn, cancer prevention could be achieved. Further, once developed, CSCs demonstrate the ability to differentiate into endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and other phenotypes establishing the CSC niche. These will be good materials for developing novel cancer treatments. In this protocol, we describe how to handle mouse iPSCs/ESCs and how to choose the critical time for starting the conversion into CSCs. This CSC generation protocol is essential for understanding the role of CSC in cancer initiation and progress.

Published in Methods and Protocols

ISSN: 2409-9279 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/mps

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