Cancer cells can achieve cellular immortality in culture
Cancer cells frequently achieve cellular immortality in culture through mechanisms such as telomerase reactivation or alternative telomere lengthening, which allow them to bypass normal replicative senescence.
The claim that cancer cells can achieve cellular immortality in culture is exceptionally well-supported across the literature. Multiple studies document the mechanisms—such as TERT upregulation, telomerase activation, and bypass of p53/senescence checkpoints—that allow cancer cells to proliferate indefinitely both in vivo and in vitro. There are no refuting papers.
Caitlin M. Roake, S. Artandi. Control of Cellular Aging, Tissue Function, and Cancer by p53 Downstream of Telomeres. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a026088
The paper discusses how incipient cancer cells bypass telomere-p53 barriers to up-regulate telomerase and achieve cellular immortality.
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Robert F Newbold. Cellular immortalization and telomerase activation in cancer. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198568537.003.0010
The review notes that cancer development involves the selection of variant cells that survive and proliferate indefinitely.
Nicholas O. Stevers, Sara A. Collins, N. Kasahara, J. Costello. CSIG-05. A GABP DOMINANT NEGATIVE APPROACH TO THE REVERSAL OF TUMOR IMMORTALITY. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noac209.154
The study highlights immortality as a fundamental hallmark of human cancer cells driven by TERT promoter mutations.
Javier Curi de Bardet, Celeste Ramírez Cardentey, Belkis López González, Deanira Patrone, Idania Lores Mulet, Dario Siniscalco, María de Los Angeles Robinson-Agramonte. Cell Immortalization: In Vivo Molecular Bases and In Vitro Techniques for Obtention.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech12010014
The review details how cancer cells utilize telomerase activation or alternative lengthening mechanisms to obtain infinite replicative capacity in vitro and in vivo.
Nifang Niu, Liewei Wang. In vitro human cell line models to predict clinical response to anticancer drugs.. 2015. https://doi.org/10.2217/pgs.14.170
The paper notes the widespread use of immortalized cancer cell lines, such as the NCI-60 panel, in pharmacogenomic studies.
Robert F Newbold. The significance of telomerase activation and cellular immortalization in human cancer.. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/17.6.539
The paper explains that immortalization and telomerase activation are necessary for continuous tumor cell proliferation and malignant progression.
N W Kim, M A Piatyszek, K R Prowse, C B Harley, M D West, P L Ho, G M Coviello, W E Wright, S L Weinrich, J W Shay. Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer.. 1994. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7605428
The study demonstrates that human telomerase activity is specifically associated with immortal cells and the vast majority of human tumors.
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