Stem Cell Therapy Overview and Challenges
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What is one of the main therapeutic applications of stem cells in treating Parkinson's disease?

  • To increase the amount of excess dopamine
  • To destroy dopamine-producing cells
  • To block nerve signals in the brain
  • To enhance and/or replace dopamine-producing cells (correct)

    • Which of the following presents a potential problem for stem cell therapy?

  • No potential for mutations
  • Methodological difficulties in delivery (correct)
  • Immune rejection in patient's own cells
  • Absence of moral debates surrounding embryonic stem cells

    • What is meant by 'anaplasia' in the context of stem cell differentiation?

  • Loss of differentiation typically seen in cancer (correct)
  • Conversion of one cell type to another
  • Abnormal arrangement of cells
  • Normal cellular arrangement and differentiation

    • Why is targeting cancer stem cells crucial for effective cancer therapy?

    <p>They can cause tumor recurrence if not eliminated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can cancer stem cells originate, according to the information provided?

    <p>From stem cells acquiring oncogenic mutations or dedifferentiating from mature cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge does the immunological aspect of adult stem cells present?

    <p>They are less potent than embryonic stem cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process describes the abnormal arrangement of cells that can be harmless or a precursor to cancer?

    <p>Dysplasia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant potential outcome of successful stem cell therapies in the near future?

    <p>Regeneration of any human tissue damaged by injury, disease, or aging</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can occur if cancer stem cells are removed while other cancer cells are left behind?

    <p>Other cancer cells can dedifferentiate into cancer stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What signaling pathway is mentioned as enhancing dedifferentiation in cancer cells?

    <p>NF-κB signaling pathway</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a transition that cancer cells can hijack for metastasis?

    <p>Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following cancers has the highest lifetime risk of diagnosis according to the data?

    <p>Lung cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic do mesenchymal cancer cells acquire that allows for metastasis?

    <p>Increased invasiveness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process do chief cells undergo to form metaplastic cells in the stomach?

    <p>Transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributes to the aging of self-renewing stem cells?

    <p>Intrinsic DNA damage and extrinsic environmental changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it critical to eliminate all types of cancer cells during therapy?

    <p>Non-stem cancer cells can dedifferentiate into stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one significant issue that needs to be addressed for the effectiveness of IPS cells in stem cell therapy?

    <p>They require further research to ensure safety and efficacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the presence of cancer stem cells influence cancer therapy outcome?

    <p>They are responsible for tumor recurrence after initial treatment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is dysplasia in the context of stem cell differentiation?

    <p>An abnormal arrangement of cells that may precede cancer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential moral debate associated with stem cell therapy?

    <p>The implications of using embryonic stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does anaplasia indicate in the lifecycle of stem cells?

    <p>The loss of differentiation generally seen in cancer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do adult stem cells have in relation to immune rejection concerns?

    <p>Using the patient's own adult stem cells avoids immune rejection problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason the elimination of all cancer cells is critical in therapy?

    <p>Remaining mature cancer cells may reform cancer stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What hypothesis suggests that a subset of tumor cells drives the development of most cancers?

    <p>The cancer stem cell hypothesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does elevated NF-κB signaling have on cancer cells?

    <p>Enhances Wnt activation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process allows non-stem cancer cells to acquire tumor-initiating capacity?

    <p>Dedifferentiation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis?

    <p>EMT contributes to increased invasiveness of cancer cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cancer has the lowest lifetime risk of diagnosis according to the data?

    <p>Laryngeal cartilage cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism contributes to the aging of self-renewing stem cells?

    <p>DNA damage and niche changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the ultimate conclusion regarding cancer therapy?

    <p>All types of cancer cells must be eliminated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is involved in the transition of cells from mesenchymal to epithelial phenotype?

    <p>MET processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon is described by dedifferentiation of chief cells in the stomach?

    <p>Formation of new cancer stem cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the key challenges associated with using IPS cells in therapy?

    <p>They require more research to ensure effectiveness and safety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does metaplasia refer to in the context of stem cells?

    <p>The transformation of one cell type into another, typically due to tissue damage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to eliminate cancer stem cells during treatment?

    <p>They can lead to tumor growth even after the bulk of the tumor is removed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What potential moral debate arises from the use of embryonic stem cells?

    <p>The ethical implications of using human embryos.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition is described by the abnormal arrangement of cells which can be harmless or a cancer precursor?

    <p>Dysplasia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant contribution of transformed progenitor cells to cancer?

    <p>They can lead to additional mutations that fuel cancer development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main hypothesis regarding cancer stem cells?

    <p>They are involved in driving the growth of the tumor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the anticipated outcome of stem cell therapies in the near future?

    <p>Ability to regenerate any damaged human tissue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a possible consequence of leaving non-stem cancer cells behind after removing cancer stem cells?

    <p>They can dedifferentiate into cancer stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does inflammation play in dedifferentiation of cancer cells?

    <p>It promotes bidirectional conversion between stem and non-stem cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What underlying mechanism contributes to the aging of self-renewing stem cells?

    <p>Accumulation of DNA damage and changes in supporting niches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process is characterized by cancer cells becoming more invasive and losing their proliferative ability?

    <p>Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cancer type has the highest lifetime risk of diagnosis based on the provided statistics?

    <p>Lung cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to mesenchymal cancer cells that metastasize to other sites?

    <p>They undergo differentiation back to epithelial-like cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cancer type is associated with the lowest lifetime risk of diagnosis?

    <p>Laryngeal cartilage cancer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What cellular process occurs when chief cells in the stomach undergo a transformation independent of stem cells?

    <p>Dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Stem Cell Therapy Applications

    • Stem cells can be used to treat Parkinson's disease by enhancing or replacing dopamine-producing brain cells.
    • Therapies to regenerate damaged tissues from injuries, diseases or aging are possible within a few years.

    Stem Cell Therapy Problems

    • Many methodological challenges exist (e.g., delivery methods)
    • Ethical concerns about embryonic stem cells.
    • IPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells require further development for effectiveness and safety.
    • Immune rejection of transplanted cells is a concern.
    • Adult stem cell problems include mutations, cancer potential and lower potency compared to embryonic stem cells.
    • Successes include bone marrow transplantation.

    Errors of Differentiation

    • Dysplasia: abnormal cell arrangement, potentially harmless or precancerous.
    • Metaplasia: one cell type transforms into another, often in response to tissue damage.
    • Anaplasia: loss of cell differentiation, often occurring in cancer.
    • Gene expression changes often accompany these alterations, sometimes having causative links to diseases.

    Cancer Stem Cells

    • A hypothesis proposes that a subpopulation of tumor cells (cancer stem cells) drives tumor growth and are more resistant to standard therapies.
    • These cells may originate from stem cells with mutations or through dedifferentiation of existing mature cells.
    • Eliminating all cancer cells, not just the bulk of the tumor, is crucial to preventing recurrence.

    Dedifferentiation in Colon and Stomach Cancer

    • Cancer stem cells can be created from other cells (dedifferentiation).
    • Inflammatory environments can promote dedifferentiation.
    • Therapies need to target all cancer types, for effectiveness.

    EMT and MET in Cancer Stem Cells

    • EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) and MET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition) are processes that can be hijacked in cancer cells.
    • These transitions allow cancer to spread via changes in cell type.
    • In these transitions, cancer cells might change from a proliferative, epithelial-like state to migrating mesenchymal cells or vice versa.

    Variations in Cancer Risk by Tissue Type

    • Lifetime risks of certain cancers vary significantly depending on the tissue. Lung, colon, thyroid, stomach, brain, esophagus, small intestine, pelvic bone and laryngeal cancer have different lifetime risks.

    Stem Cells and Aging

    • Recent research suggests aging may be partly due to the effects of aging on stem cells.
    • Stem cells can display heritable changes (like DNA damage) and external factors (niche changes).

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    Stem Cells: Therapeutic Applications PDF

    Description

    Explore the applications and problems of stem cell therapy, from treating diseases like Parkinson's to the challenges posed by ethical concerns and differentiation errors. This quiz delves into various aspects of stem cell research, including induced pluripotent stem cells and their potential in regenerative medicine.

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