Resistance to neoplastic transformation induced by nonterminal differentiation
Estervig, D.N.; Maercklein, P.B.; Scott, R.E.
Cancer Research 49(4): 1008-1013
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 2912546 Document Number: 341692
Cell clones derived from undifferentiated 3T3 T mesenchymal stem cells show a low rate of spontaneous transformation but can be efficiently transformed by a variety of carcinogens. In contrast, it is now reported that cell clones derived from nonterminally differentiated 3T3 T stem cells are highly resistant to neoplastic transformation induced by physical and chemical carcinogens. Differentiation-induced resistance to neoplastic transformation is evident in both in vitro and in vivo transformation assays and can be stably expressed for greater than 50 population doublings. These results establish that resistance to neoplastic transformation can be regulated in mammalian stem cells by the process of nonterminal differentiation.