Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells—Bringing Humanity One Step Closer to Curing Cancer

Abstract

Cancer develops when healthy cells experience a mutation, allowing for rapid and abnormal growth. Mutagens, such as radiation and carcinogens, allow fast-growth variant cells to be positively selected and thus propagate the development of cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy are prevailing, but non-ideal forms of cancer treatment as they can harm healthy cells in the body. Stem cells can be used to replace the healthy cells that were lost, but there are ethical concerns regarding the acquisition of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), or technicalities in obtainment and usage of adult stem cells (ASCs). Thus, the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) allows for the use of ASCs that are given the pluripotent characteristics of ESCs. In 2018, Kooreman and his colleagues from Stanford University coaxed iPSCs to display the epitopes of breast cancer. After exposing mice with breast cancer to iPSCs, 70% of the mice had a decreased tumour size compared to control mice. Thus, iPSCs may work as a vaccine for cancer and potentially treat and cure the disease. Further research is required to study the feasibility of the use of iPSCs for human breast cancer.