Einzelzellbiologie

Abstrakt

Back on track: New perspectives on the reprogramming of cancer cells

Carpentieri Arianna, Diedenhofen Giacomo and Gambacurta Alessandra*

The ability to derive induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from cancer cells has proven to be an important advance in understanding the mechanisms regulating stem cell formation, differentiation and neoplastic transformation. Our work proposes a new differentiation method using rapamycin and an amorphous bone matrix to promote the commitment of neuroblastoma cells to the osteogenic lineage by switching to another germ layer without an intermediate step with iPSCs. We followed the process from a morphological perspective using immunofluorescence analysis, cytochemistry and electron microscopy and from a metabolic perspective using enzyme activity assays and protein expression analysis. We believe that the observed morphological and metabolic changes are the basis for a new way of reprogramming cancer cells.