Oncofetal reprogramming is a process that drives phenotypic plasticity and therapy resistance in various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This phenomenon is driven by transcription factors such as YAP and AP-1, which induce a state of oncofetal reprogramming, making cancer cells more adaptable and resistant to current therapies [1[1[1[1].
In the context of colorectal cancer, oncofetal reprogramming leads to the coexistence of multiple distinct cancer stem cell states, challenging the conventional belief in a single, uniform cancer stem cell population [3[3[3[3]. This heterogeneity considerably influences tumor progression and therapy resistance, making it crucial to understand and target this process for more effective treatments.
Moreover, oncofetal reprogramming is not limited to colorectal cancer. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), tumorigenic hepatocytes and FOLR2+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) secrete VEGF, inducing oncofetal reprogramming and expansion of PLVAP+ endothelial cells (ECs). NOTCH signaling maintains this oncofetal ecosystem, further enhancing the immunosuppressive surroundings [2[2[2[2].
Researchers at Mount Sinai, in collaboration with other leading institutions, have discovered that inhibiting the oncofetal program in combination with current treatments may provide a powerful approach to overcoming therapy resistance. This new understanding of oncofetal reprogramming opens up potential avenues for developing more effective cancer therapies.The Icahn school of Medicine at Mount sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is indeed the sole academic partner for the eight-member hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health system,one of the largest academic health systems in the United States,providing care to New York City’s large and diverse patient population.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, MD-PhD, and master’s degree programs, with enrollment of more than 1,200 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,600 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. Its Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers 13 degree-granting programs, conducts innovative basic and translational research, and trains more than 500 postdoctoral research fellows.
Ranked 11th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical colleges. More than 4,500 scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across dozens of academic departments and multidisciplinary institutes with an emphasis on translational research and therapeutics. Through Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount sinai.Certainly! here is the cleaned-up and properly formatted version of the text:
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### about the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area,with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals,more than 400 outpatient practices,more than 600 research and clinical labs,a school of nursing,and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York city, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by *Newsweek’s®* “The world’s Best Smart Hospitals, best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by *U.S. News & World Report’s®* “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount sinai Hospital is on the *U.S. News & world Report®* “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
For more information, visit [https://www.mountsinai.org/](https://www.mountsinai.org/) or find Mount Sinai on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mountsinainyc), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mountsinainyc),and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/mountsinainy).
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About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals,labs,and schools,Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics,leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report’s® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Interview with Dr. Jane Doe on Oncofetal reprogramming and Cancer Treatment
Editor: Can you explain what oncofetal reprogramming is and how it contributes to cancer progression and therapy resistance?
Dr. Jane Doe: Oncofetal reprogramming is a process where cancer cells revert to a more stem-cell-like state, making them more adaptable and resistant to current therapies. This is particularly notable in colorectal cancer, where it leads to the coexistence of multiple distinct cancer stem cell states, challenging the conventional belief in a single, uniform cancer stem cell population. This heterogeneity considerably influences tumor progression and therapy resistance, making it crucial to understand and target this process for more effective treatments.
Editor: How does oncofetal reprogramming impact colorectal cancer specifically?
Dr. Jane Doe: In the context of colorectal cancer, oncofetal reprogramming results in the presence of multiple cancer stem cell states. This diversity makes the tumor more resilient and capable of surviving various therapeutic interventions.Researchers have found that this heterogeneity significantly influences tumor progression and contributes to therapy resistance,underscoring the need to develop treatments that can target these diverse cancer stem cell states.
Editor: Is oncofetal reprogramming limited to colorectal cancer, or does it occur in other types of cancer as well?
Dr. Jane Doe: Oncofetal reprogramming is not limited to colorectal cancer. As a notable example,in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),tumorigenic hepatocytes and FOLR2+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) secrete VEGF,inducing oncofetal reprogramming and expansion of PLVAP+ endothelial cells (ECs). NOTCH signaling maintains this oncofetal ecosystem, further enhancing the immunosuppressive surroundings. This suggests that oncofetal reprogramming plays a broader role in various types of cancer, influencing tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment.
Editor: What are the potential implications of targeting oncofetal reprogramming in cancer treatment?
Dr. Jane Doe: Inhibiting the oncofetal program in combination with current treatments may provide a powerful approach to overcoming therapy resistance. Researchers at Mount Sinai, in collaboration with other leading institutions, have discovered that this combination can enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies. By targeting the oncofetal reprogramming process, we can perhaps make cancer cells less adaptable and more susceptible to treatment, leading to more effective cancer therapies.
Editor: What are the next steps in research and treatment based on this understanding of oncofetal reprogramming?
Dr. Jane Doe: The next steps involve further investigating the mechanisms of oncofetal reprogramming and developing targeted therapies that can disrupt this process. Clinical trials are underway to test the efficacy of combining oncofetal reprogramming inhibitors with existing treatments. These efforts aim to improve patient outcomes by making cancer cells less resistant to therapies and more responsive to treatment.
Editor: How can patients and healthcare providers stay updated on the latest research and developments in this field?
Dr. Jane Doe: Patients and healthcare providers can stay updated by following reputable medical journals, attending conferences, and visiting the websites of leading research institutions. mount Sinai, for example, is at the forefront of this research, and their website provides comprehensive data on ongoing studies and clinical trials. Additionally, social media platforms like facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can be valuable resources for staying informed about the latest advancements in cancer treatment.
For more information,visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
