The influence of cancer cells on their neighbors is something that is being actively studied.  In this research, human prostate cells were exposed to arsenic, a chemical known to cause cancer.  Arsenic is a relevant chemical to study because it is a common contaminant in drinking water around the world. The prostate cells exposed to arsenic turned into malignant cancer cells.

The arsenic-transformed cells were then placed in culture near (but not touching) normal prostate stem cells.  Read more >>