[Application of iPSC technology to cancer treatment]

Induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)can be generated via reprogramming of somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells by introducing defined factors with appropriate culture conditions. iPSCs have 4 key properties. iPSCs have pluripotency and self-renewal ability, which are properties in common with embryonic stem cells. Additionally, iPSCs can be generated from various donor individuals with particular characteristics and also from various types of cells in a single donor. Regarding the medical applications of the technology, the best use of iPSCs should be based on a better understanding of these properties in accordance to different purposes. At present, the technology has been applied in various research fields. In cancer research, the technology has been expected to be useful, especially in immunotherapy, disease modeling, drug development. Thus, iPSC technology is a promising tool even in the field. Continuous challenges raise the hope for the development of novel cancer treatments using iPSC technologies in the future.