Current challenges in the therapeutic use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in cancer therapy

Abstract

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) technology has catapulted the field of stem-cell biology through ectopic expression of reprogramming factors. Ever since its discovery, the potential of iPSCs has been explored by many scientists to unravel the molecular mechanism responsible for cancer initiation and progression. Besides modeling cancer, the further applications of this technology includes high-throughput drug screening, epigenetic reprogramming of cancer cell state to normal, immunotherapy and regenerative cell therapies. Here, we review the current challenges on clinical applications of iPSCs with respect to understanding cancer and personalizing treatment for the disease.

Vertically Aligned Nanostructured Topographies for Human Neural Stem Cell Differentiation and Neuronal Cell Interrogation

“…Current cell reprogramming methods involve processes that limit their clinical and widespread use, for example, the reliance on viral vectors for efficient transfection and intracellular delivery, and the need for sequential and repeated delivery of genes and factors. [ 66,67 ] However, it is by now also well known that engineered nanotopographical cues influence cell behavior by modulating intracellular signaling, and importantly for the purpose of this perspective, can induce neural morphology and phenotype even in non‐neural cells in vitro ( Table 2 ). [ 68–71 ] If we can mechanically stimulate the cell's own intracellular signaling pathways enabling dedifferentiation and/or redifferentiation, thereby facilitating either transdifferentiation or reprogramming, the hope is that we can reduce or even eliminate the reliance on viral vector‐mediated introduction of foreign material into cells, which may render them more amenable to cell therapy applications.…”