Reflected stemness as a potential driver of the tumour microenvironment

A fundamental requirement for cancer initiation is the activation of developmental programmes by mutant cells. Oncogenic signals often confer an undifferentiated, stem cell-like phenotype that supports the long-term proliferative potential of cancer cells. Although cancer is a genetically driven disease, mutations in cancer-driver genes alone are insufficient for tumour formation, and the prolifera-tion of cells harbouring oncogenic mutations depends on their microenvironment. In this Opinion article we discuss how the reprogrammed status of cancer cells not only represents the essence of their tumorigenicity but triggers 'reflected stemness' in their surrounding normal counterparts. We propose that this recipro-cal interaction underpins the establishment of the tumour microenvironment (TME).

Automated summary

The activation of developmental programmes by mutant cells is a fundamental requirement for cancer initiation. Oncogenic signals confer undifferentiated, stem cell-like properties to cancer cells, supporting their long-term proliferative potential. While mutations in cancer-driver genes alone are insufficient for tumor formation, the proliferation of cells with oncogenic mutations depends on their microenvironment. This Opinion article discusses how the reprogrammed status of cancer cells represents their tumorigenicity and triggers 'reflected stemness' in surrounding normal cells, contributing to the establishment of the tumor microenvironment (TME).