LOH-proficient embryonic stem cells: a model of cancer progenitor cells?

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in genetics 2007-04, Vol.23 (4), p.154-157
Main Authors: Bielas, Jason H, Venkatesan, Ranga N, Loeb, Lawrence A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Embryonic Stem Cells
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Humans
Loss of Heterozygosity
Medical Education
Models, Biological
Molecular and cellular biology
Neoplastic Stem Cells
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0168-9525
DOI:10.1016/j.tig.2007.02.009