BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Eliminating teratomas

August 30, 2012 7:00 AM UTC

A University of California, San Diego team has developed a genetic method to prevent embryonic stem cell therapies from forming cancerous teratomas following transplantation.1 The method was safe in mice, although questions remain about whether the genetic modifications will raise safety and regulatory concerns in patients.

Teratomas are a type of tumor tissue that result from the abnormal development of pluripotent cells when transplanted in vivo. They are usually benign, but malignant teratomas can occur...