1. However, this knowledge is still vastly incomplete. New technological advances are required to thoroughly interrogate the contribution of a wide range of signalling pathways to somatic cell reprogramming. One of the limitations of many current approaches is the inability to track reprogramming cell signalling in real-time selleck chemicals llc since cells must be sacrificed to obtain

data, for example for microarray analysis[36], fluorescence-activated cell sorting or protein extracts[78] at various time points. Some advances have been made to track reprogramming cells in real-time, for example, Smith et al[88] carried out time-lapse imaging with the aim of tracking single cells undergoing the reprogramming process. However, they concluded that this was virtually impossible. We are currently interrogating the role of cell signalling networks in iPS cell reprogramming using a range of GFP reporter HDF lines activated by transcription factors involved in relevant cell

signalling pathways. This allows us to monitor signalling pathway activity throughout an entire iPS cell reprogramming experiment in real-time. We anticipate this will enable us to temporally map the contribution of a wide range of signalling pathways to iPS cell reprogramming, thus illuminating this enigmatic biological phenomenon. Footnotes P- Reviewer: Imamura M, Niyibizi C, Niu W, Song J S- Editor: Song XX L- Editor: A E- Editor: Lu YJ
Core tip: Cancer stem cells (CSC) are thought to be malignant cells that have the capacity to initiate and maintain tumor growth and survival. Several studies have explored the role of dysregulation of the Wnt/β- catenin, transformation growth factor-beta and hedhog pathways in generation of CSC. The exact machismo of their development, however, remains unknown. Several investigators have researched modalities to identify and target CSC. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence exploring the mechanisms of development, identification and targeting of CSC in gastrointestinal malignancies. STEM CELLS IN GASTROINTESTINAL CANCERS: THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Cancer is a disease of adult stem cells (SC). Adult SC are the only

cells that Anacetrapib persist in the tissue for a sufficient length of time to acquire the sufficient sequential genetic alterations for cancer development[1]. Adult SC have been traditionally relatively quiescent, a feature thought to protect them from the accumulation of DNA errors that may lead to carcinogenesis[1]. In the gastrointestinal tract, the immediate stem cell progeny, however, proliferate rapidly to allow for tissue repopulation[1]. Their limited life span restricts the impact of any replication errors. It is worth noting that this concept has been challenged by recent studies that suggest that adult stem cells are in fact capable of rapid self-renewal[2]. Similarly, cancer stem cells (CSC) have the capacity to initiate and maintain tumor growth and survival[3].