Do stem cell divisions significantly contribute to cancer development?

Authors

  • Ryan Sandarage
  • Justin G. Chitpin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18192/osurj.v1i1.3687

Abstract

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cellular growth, yet some cancer cells may have greater roles in sustaining tumour proliferation and overcoming conventional cancer treatments. The origins of these cancer stem cells, as they are hypothesized, is widely contested. The current opinion points to extrinsic factors such as smoking, diet and sedentary lifestyle to be the primary inducer of cancer stem cells. This dogma was challenged in 2015 when Tomasetti and Vogelstein postulated that two-thirds of the variation in cancer risk could be explained by random mutations arising during DNA replication in healthy stem cells. Their "bad luck" hypothesis sparked fierce debate and controversy in the scientific community. In this point-counterpoint article, we discuss the random mutation cancer stem cell model and its implications for guiding public health through primary and secondary cancer prevention.

Triple-decker circus ring : mRojo-VHSV triple decker motif and immunofluorescent model organisms. Rattus norvegicus, HeLa cells, and Danio rerio can be used as ex- pression systems of red fluorescent protein. The mutant triple decker consists of three motifs : the 63rd histidine (top), the chromophore (middle), and the 197th tyrosine (bottom) residue of the fluorescent protein.

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Published

2018-08-23

Issue

Vol. 1 (2018)

Section

Point-Counterpoint

License

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