Generation of pluripotent cancer-initiating cells from transformed bone marrow-derived cells

Our previous studies indicated that pluripotent cancer-initiating cells existed in chemical carcinogen-transformed mouse bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs). In this report, we named them as bone marrow-derived pluripotent cancer-initiating (bmPCI) cells. The bmPCI cells showed properties of embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells/embryonic stem (ES) cells in morphology and gene expression, differentiated into multiple somatic tumor cells, generated oocyte-like cells and later developed into blastocyst-like structures in vitro while causing teratocarcinomas in vivo. These findings demonstrate that pluripotent cancer-initiating cells can originate from BMDCs. It provides an accessible in vitro model for copying the “embryonal rest” phenomenon from adult cells.