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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
09:10
Intestinal Epithelial Regeneration in Response to Ionizing Irradiation
Published on: July 27, 2022
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Radiation-induced cell fate plasticity.
Michael Shiferaw1, Tin Tin Su1,2
1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
Open Biology
|January 15, 2026
Summary
Ionizing radiation (IR) can cause permanent changes in cell identity, leading to cell fate plasticity. This process, where one cell type converts to another, may allow cancer cells to develop stem-like traits, impacting tumor progression and treatment resistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- Ionizing radiation (IR) is a common cancer treatment inducing DNA damage and apoptosis.
- IR also causes damage to other cellular components, triggering complex responses.
- Some IR-induced cellular responses can alter cell identity permanently.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cell fate plasticity following IR-induced damage.
- To differentiate cell fate plasticity from other forms of cellular plasticity.
- To explore the implications of cell fate plasticity in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on cell fate plasticity after IR.
- Distinguishing cell fate plasticity from molecular/phenotypic plasticity.
- Analyzing the role of cell fate plasticity in cancer progression and therapy resistance.
Main Results:
- Cell fate plasticity, the conversion of one cell type to another, occurs during recovery from IR.
- This process is likely a continuum and may be reversible.
- Cell fate plasticity can lead to cancer cells acquiring stem-like properties.
Conclusions:
- Cell fate plasticity is a significant consequence of IR-induced damage.
- Understanding cell fate plasticity is crucial for cancer therapy.
- The acquisition of stem-like properties via cell fate plasticity contributes to tumor progression and therapy resistance.
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