Reprogramming Stem Cells May Prevent Cancer after Radiation

December 30, 2014

(Eurekalert) – The body has evolved ways to get rid of faulty stem cells. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published today in the journal Stem Cells shows that one of these ways is a “program” that makes stem cells damaged by radiation differentiate into other cells that can no longer survive forever. Radiation makes a stem cell lose its “stemness.” That makes sense: you don’t want damaged stem cells sticking around to crank out damaged cells.