Using induced pluripotent stem cells as a tool for modelling carcinogenesis

Figure 1 Schematic illustrating normal stem cell expansion and the cancer stem cell model. Normal stem, transit-amplifying or differentiated cells can undergo oncogenic reprogramming resulting in generation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Non-CSCs also demonstrate plasticity and can dedifferentiate to CSCs.

Figure 2 Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from both normal and malignant patient tissue could be used to model carcinogenesis and elucidate the mechanisms which underlie the stages of cancer development. iPSC: Induced pluripotent stem cell.