Arsenic-specific stem cell selection during malignant transformation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arsenic is a carcinogen that targets the urogenital system, including the prostate. Although the mechanisms for arsenic-induced carcinogenesis are undefined, arsenic drives overaccumulation of stem cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) in vivo and in vitro, indicating that these cells are a key target population. Disruption of stem cell population dynamics may be critical to acquisition of cancer phenotype. We tested the hypothesis that prostate stem cells have a survival selection advantage during arsenic exposure that favors their accumulation and facilitates their malignant transformation.

Methods

Innate and acquired resistance to acute (24-72 hours of exposure) and chronic (6 weeks of exposure) arsenite-induced cytolethality and apoptosis were assessed in a human

SUBMITTER: Tokar EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2864291 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature