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Research Paper
Neosis: A Novel Type of Cell Division in Cancer
Meenakshi Sundaram , Duane L. Guernsey, Murali M. Rajaraman and Rengaswami Rajaraman
volume 3 | issue 2
feb 2004Pages: 207-218
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Using computerized video time-lapse microscope, we studied early cellular events during carcinogen-induced transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells. Multinucleate / polyploid giant cells (MN/PGs) formed due to DNA damage is thought to die via mitotic catastrophe. Before they die, some MN/PGs undergo a novel type of cell division, termed neosis, characterized by karyokinesis via nuclear budding followed by asymmetric, intracellular cytokinesis, producing several small mononuclear cells, termed the Raju cells, with extended mitotic life span (MLS). Mitotic derivatives of Raju cells give rise to transformed cell lines, inherit genomic instability, display a phenotype and transcriptome different from the neosis mother cell, and display anchorage-independent growth. Neosis of MN/PGs also precedes spontaneous transformation of p53-/- mouse cells. Rodent neotic clones, and primary and metastatic human tumor cells undergo spontaneous or induced secondary/tertiary neosis. Neosis seems to extend the MLS of cells under conditions of genetic duress not favoring mitosis. It precedes tumorigenesis, occurs several times during tumor progression, yielding tumor-initiating Raju cells and introducing tumor cell heterogeneity subject to natural selection during tumor progression. Events during neosis, and its relevance to origin of established cell lines, multistep carcinogenesis, cancer stem cells, and therapeutic advantages of anti-neotic agents (neosicides) are discussed.
We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link:
Download PDFIf the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.