Figure 1.

Schematic representation of the parallel processes of pluripotency reprogramming and tumorigenesis from a mechanistic viewpoint. Primary cells of diverse origins are transduced with pluripotency factors or oncogenes that, upon inhibition of tumor suppressors, extensive epigenetic remodeling, and a switch to a glycolytic metabolism, render clones or colonies with embryonic stem cell‐like morphology that are selected manually until fully pluripotent (self‐renewing and undifferentiated) colonies are established. In the case of tumor formation, selection for self‐renewing and undifferentiated (in terms of tumor cell potential) occurs naturally in the organism.