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Kusienicka A, Cieśla M, Bukowska-Strakova K, Nowak WN, Bronisz-Budzyńska I, Seretny A, Żukowska M, Jeż M, Wolnik J, Józkowicz A. Slow-cycling murine melanoma cells display plasticity and enhanced tumorigenicity in syngeneic transplantation assay. Neoplasia 2022; 36:100865. [PMID: 36563633 PMCID: PMC9798190 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Slow-cycling cancer cells (SCC) contribute to the aggressiveness of many cancers, and their invasiveness and chemoresistance pose a great therapeutic challenge. However, in melanoma, their tumor-initiating abilities are not fully understood. In this study, we used the syngeneic transplantation assay to investigate the tumor-initiating properties of melanoma SCC in the physiologically relevant in vivo settings. For this we used B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line where we identified a small fraction of SCC. We found that, unlike human melanoma, the murine melanoma SCC were not marked by the high expression of the epigenetic enzyme Jarid1b. At the same time, their slow-cycling phenotype was a temporary state, similar to what was described in human melanoma. Progeny of SCC had slightly increased doxorubicin resistance and altered expression of melanogenesis genes, independent of the expression of cancer stem cell markers. Single-cell expansion of SCC revealed delayed growth and reduced clone formation when compared to non-SCC, which was further confirmed by an in vitro limiting dilution assay. Finally, syngeneic transplantation of 10 cells in vivo established that SCC were able to initiate growth in primary recipients and continue growth in the serial transplantation assay, suggesting their self-renewal nature. Together, our study highlights the high plasticity and tumorigenicity of murine melanoma SCC and suggests their role in melanoma aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kusienicka
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Maciej Cieśla
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Karolina Bukowska-Strakova
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-663 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Witold Norbert Nowak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Iwona Bronisz-Budzyńska
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Seretny
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Monika Żukowska
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Mateusz Jeż
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Jan Wolnik
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Alicja Józkowicz
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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Heme Oxygenase-1 Has a Greater Effect on Melanoma Stem Cell Properties Than the Expression of Melanoma-Initiating Cell Markers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073596. [PMID: 35408953 PMCID: PMC8998882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma-initiating cells (MICs) contribute to the tumorigenicity and heterogeneity of melanoma. MICs are identified by surface and functional markers and have been shown to display cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. However, the existence of MICs that follow the hierarchical CSC model has been questioned by studies showing that single unselected melanoma cells are highly tumorigenic in xenotransplantation assays. Herein, we characterize cells expressing MIC markers (CD20, CD24, CD133, Sca-1, ABCB1, ABCB5, ALDHhigh) in the B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line. We use flow cytometric phenotyping, single-cell sorting followed by in vitro clonogenic assays, and syngeneic in vivo serial transplantation assays to demonstrate that the expression of MIC markers does not select CSC-like cells in this cell line. Previously, our group showed that heme-degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can be upregulated in melanoma and increase its aggressiveness. Here, we show that HO-1 activity is important for non-adherent growth of melanoma and HO-1 overexpression enhances the vasculogenic mimicry potential, which can be considered protumorigenic activity. However, HO-1 overexpression decreases clone formation in vitro and serial tumor initiation in vivo. Thus, HO-1 plays a dual role in melanoma, improving the progression of growing tumors but reducing the risk of melanoma initiation.
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Matias M, Pinho JO, Penetra MJ, Campos G, Reis CP, Gaspar MM. The Challenging Melanoma Landscape: From Early Drug Discovery to Clinical Approval. Cells 2021; 10:3088. [PMID: 34831311 PMCID: PMC8621991 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is recognized as the most dangerous type of skin cancer, with high mortality and resistance to currently used treatments. To overcome the limitations of the available therapeutic options, the discovery and development of new, more effective, and safer therapies is required. In this review, the different research steps involved in the process of antimelanoma drug evaluation and selection are explored, including information regarding in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, as well as clinical trial phases. Details are given about the most used cell lines and assays to perform both two- and three-dimensional in vitro screening of drug candidates towards melanoma. For in vivo studies, murine models are, undoubtedly, the most widely used for assessing the therapeutic potential of new compounds and to study the underlying mechanisms of action. Here, the main melanoma murine models are described as well as other animal species. A section is dedicated to ongoing clinical studies, demonstrating the wide interest and successful efforts devoted to melanoma therapy, in particular at advanced stages of the disease, and a final section includes some considerations regarding approval for marketing by regulatory agencies. Overall, considerable commitment is being directed to the continuous development of optimized experimental models, important for the understanding of melanoma biology and for the evaluation and validation of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Matias
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Penetra
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Campos
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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A Novel Regimen for Treating Melanoma: MCL1 Inhibitors and Azacitidine. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14080749. [PMID: 34451846 PMCID: PMC8399604 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although treatment options for melanoma patients have expanded in recent years with the approval of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, there is still an unmet need for new treatment options for patients that are ineligible for, or resistant to these therapies. BH3 mimetics, drugs that mimic the activity of pro-apoptotic BCL2 family proteins, have recently achieved remarkable success in the clinical setting. The combination of BH3 mimetic ABT-199 (venetoclax) plus azacitidine has shown substantial benefit in treating acute myelogenous leukemia. We evaluated the efficacy of various combinations of BH3 mimetic + azacitidine in fourteen human melanoma cell lines from cutaneous, mucosal, acral and uveal subtypes. Using a combination of cell viability assay, BCL2 family knockdown cell lines, live cell imaging, and sphere formation assay, we found that combining inhibition of MCL1, an anti-apoptotic BCL2 protein, with azacitidine had substantial pro-apoptotic effects in multiple melanoma cell lines. Specifically, this combination reduced cell viability, proliferation, sphere formation, and induced apoptosis. In addition, this combination is highly effective at reducing cell viability in rare mucosal and uveal subtypes. Overall, our data suggest this combination as a promising therapeutic option for some patients with melanoma and should be further explored in clinical trials.
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Abstract
Sphere assays are widely used in vitro techniques to enrich and evaluate the stem-like cell behavior of both normal and cancer cells. Utilizing three-dimensional in vitro sphere culture conditions provide a better representation of tumor growth in vivo than the more common monolayer cultures. We describe how to perform primary and secondary sphere assays, used for the enrichment and self-renewability studies of melanoma/melanocyte stem-like cells. Spheres are generated by growing melanoma cells at low density in nonadherent conditions with stem cell media. We provide protocols for preparing inexpensive and versatile polyHEMA-coated plates, setting up primary and secondary sphere assays in almost any tissue culture format and quantification methods using standard inverted microscopy. Our protocol is easily adaptable to laboratories with basic cell culture capabilities, without the need for expensive fluidic instruments.
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Mukherjee N, Amato CM, Skees J, Todd KJ, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, Van Gulick R, Weight RM, Dart CR, Tobin RP, McCarter MD, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Simultaneously Inhibiting BCL2 and MCL1 Is a Therapeutic Option for Patients with Advanced Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2182. [PMID: 32764384 PMCID: PMC7464298 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop treatments for patients with melanoma who are refractory to or ineligible for immune checkpoint blockade, including patients who lack BRAF-V600E/K mutations. This is often the case in patients diagnosed with rare melanoma subtypes such as mucosal and acral melanoma. Here, we analyzed data from the cutaneous melanoma The Cancer Genome Atlas Network (TCGA) transcriptomic and proteomic databases for differential expression of apoptosis molecules between melanomas with or without BRAF hotspot mutations. Our data indicated higher B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) expression in melanoma without BRAF hotspot mutations, suggesting that BH3 mimetics, such as ABT-199 (venetoclax, a small molecule against BCL2), may be a potential therapeutic option for these patients. We explored the efficacy of combining two BH3 mimetics, ABT-199 and a myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL1) inhibitor (S63845 or S64315/MIK665) in cutaneous, mucosal and acral melanomas, in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate this combination induced cell death in a broad range of melanoma cell lines, including melanoma initiating cell populations, and was more potent in melanoma cells without BRAF-V600E/K mutations. Our knockdown/knockout experiments suggest that several pro-apoptotic BCL2 family members, BCL2-like 11 (apoptosis facilitator) (BIM), phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1 (NOXA) or BID, play a role in the combination-induced effects. Overall, our study supports the rationale for combining an MCL1 inhibitor with a BCL2 inhibitor as a therapeutic option in patients with advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Carol M. Amato
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (C.M.A.); (W.A.R.); (R.V.G.); (R.M.W.); (C.R.D.)
| | - Jenette Skees
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Kaleb J. Todd
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Karoline A. Lambert
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
| | - William A. Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (C.M.A.); (W.A.R.); (R.V.G.); (R.M.W.); (C.R.D.)
| | - Robert Van Gulick
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (C.M.A.); (W.A.R.); (R.V.G.); (R.M.W.); (C.R.D.)
| | - Ryan M. Weight
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (C.M.A.); (W.A.R.); (R.V.G.); (R.M.W.); (C.R.D.)
| | - Chiara R. Dart
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (C.M.A.); (W.A.R.); (R.V.G.); (R.M.W.); (C.R.D.)
| | - Richard P. Tobin
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (R.P.T.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Martin D. McCarter
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (R.P.T.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
- Dermatology Section, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO 80220, USA
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A. Norris
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
- Dermatology Section, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO 80220, USA
| | - Yiqun G. Shellman
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (N.M.); (J.S.); (K.J.T.); (K.A.L.); (M.F.); (D.A.N.)
- Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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7
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Mukherjee N, Skees J, Todd KJ, West DA, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, Amato CM, Couts KL, Van Gulick R, MacBeth M, Nassar K, Tan AC, Zhai Z, Fujita M, Bagby SM, Dart CR, Lambert JR, Norris DA, Shellman YG. MCL1 inhibitors S63845/MIK665 plus Navitoclax synergistically kill difficult-to-treat melanoma cells. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:443. [PMID: 32513939 PMCID: PMC7280535 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2646-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Current treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma include molecular-targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, a subset of melanomas are difficult-to-treat. These melanomas include those without the genetic markers for targeted therapy, non-responsive to immunotherapy, and those who have relapsed or exhausted their therapeutic options. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and explore other biological processes that may provide new therapeutic approaches. One of most appealing is targeting the apoptotic/anti-apoptotic system that is effective against leukemia. We used genetic knockdown and pharmacologic approaches of BH3 mimetics to target anti-apoptotic BCL2 family members and identified MCL1 and BCLXL as crucial pro-survival members in melanoma. We then examined the effects of combining BH3 mimetics to target MCL1 and BCLXL in vitro and in vivo. These include clinical-trial-ready compounds such as ABT-263 (Navitoclax) and S63845/S64315 (MIK655). We used cell lines derived from patients with difficult-to-treat melanomas. In vitro, the combined inhibition of MCL1 and BCLXL resulted in significantly effective cell killing compared to single-agent treatment (p < 0.05) in multiple assays, including sphere assays. The combination-induced cell death was independent of BIM, and NOXA. Recapitulated in our mouse xenograft model, the combination inhibited tumor growth, reduced sphere-forming capacity (p < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively), and had tolerable toxicity (p > 0.40). Taken together, this study suggests that dual targeting of MCL1 and BCLXL should be considered as a treatment option for difficult-to-treat melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Jenette Skees
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Kaleb J Todd
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Drake A West
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Karoline A Lambert
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - William A Robinson
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Carol M Amato
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Kasey L Couts
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Robert Van Gulick
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Morgan MacBeth
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Kelsey Nassar
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Aik-Choon Tan
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, US
| | - Zili Zhai
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Stacey M Bagby
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - Chiara R Dart
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Mail Stop 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - James R Lambert
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8104, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
| | - David A Norris
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO, 80220, US
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8127, Aurora, CO, 80045, US.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, US.
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Marzagalli M, Raimondi M, Fontana F, Montagnani Marelli M, Moretti RM, Limonta P. Cellular and molecular biology of cancer stem cells in melanoma: Possible therapeutic implications. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:221-235. [PMID: 31265892 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a tumor characterized by a very high level of heterogeneity, responsible for its malignant behavior and ability to escape from standard therapies. In this review we highlight the molecular and biological features of the subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), well known to be characterized by self-renewal properties, deeply involved in triggering the processes of tumor generation, metastasis, progression and drug resistance. From the molecular point of view, melanoma CSCs are identified and characterized by the expression of stemness markers, such as surface markers, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, embryonic stem cells and intracellular markers. These cells are endowed with different functional features. In particular, they play pivotal roles in the processes of tumor dissemination, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, mediated by specific intracellular signaling pathways; moreover, they are characterized by a unique metabolic reprogramming. As reported for other types of tumors, the CSCs subpopulation in melanoma is also characterized by a low immunogenic profile as well as by the ability to escape the immune system, through the expression of a negative modulation of T cell functions and the secretion of immunosuppressive factors. These biological features allow melanoma CSCs to escape standard treatments, thus being deeply involved in tumor relapse. Targeting the CSCs subpopulation is now considered an attractive treatment strategy; in particular, combination treatments, based on both CSCs-targeting and standard drugs, will likely increase the therapeutic options for melanoma patients. The characterization of CSCs in liquid biopsies from single patients will pave the way towards precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Raimondi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Roberta M Moretti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
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BH3 mimetics induce apoptosis independent of DRP-1 in melanoma. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:907. [PMID: 30185782 PMCID: PMC6125485 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0932-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite the recent advancement in treating melanoma, options are still limited for patients without BRAF mutations or in relapse from current treatments. BH3 mimetics against members of the BCL-2 family have gained excitement with the recent success in hematological malignancies. However, single drug BH3 mimetic therapy in melanoma has limited effectiveness due to escape by the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 and/or survival of melanoma-initiating cells (MICs). We tested the efficacy of the BH3 mimetic combination of A-1210477 (an MCL-1 inhibitor) and ABT-263 (a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) in killing melanoma, especially MICs. We also sought to better define Dynamin-Related Protein 1 (DRP-1)'s role in melanoma; DRP-1 is known to interact with members of the BCL-2 family and is a possible therapeutic target for melanoma treatment. We used multiple assays (cell viability, apoptosis, bright field, immunoblot, and sphere formation), as well as the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing techniques. For clinical relevance, we employed patient samples of different mutation status, including some relapsed from current treatments such as anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. We found the BH3 mimetic combination kill both the MICs and non-MICs (bulk of melanoma) in all cell lines and patient samples irrespective of the mutation status or relapsed state (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, the major pro-apoptotic proteins, NOXA and BIM, are not necessary for the combination-induced cell death. Furthermore, the combination impedes the activation of DRP-1, and inhibition of DRP-1 further enhances apoptosis (p < 0.05). DRP-1 effects in melanoma differ from those seen in other cancer cells. These results provide new insights into BCL-2 family's regulation of the apoptotic pathway in melanoma, and suggest that inhibiting the major anti-apoptotic proteins is sufficient to induce cell death even without involvement from major pro-apoptotic proteins. Importantly, our study also indicates that DRP-1 inhibition is a promising adjuvant for BH3 mimetics in melanoma treatment.
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Mukherjee N, Lu Y, Almeida A, Lambert K, Shiau CW, Su JC, Luo Y, Fujita M, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Use of a MCL-1 inhibitor alone to de-bulk melanoma and in combination to kill melanoma initiating cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:46801-46817. [PMID: 27086916 PMCID: PMC5564524 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MCL-1 (BCL-2 family anti-apoptotic protein) is responsible for melanoma's resistance to therapy. Cancer initiating cells also contribute to resistance and relapse from treatments. Here we examined the effects of the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 in killing non melanoma-initiating-cells (bulk of melanoma), and melanoma-initiating-cells (MICs). By itself, SC-2001 significantly kills melanoma cells under monolayer conditions in vitro and in a conventional mouse xenograft model. However, even at high doses (10μM), SC-2001 does not effectively eliminate MICs. In contrast, the combination of SC-2001 with ABT-737 (a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) significantly decreases ALDH+ cells, disrupts primary spheres, and inhibits the self-renewability of MICs. These results were observed in multiple melanomas, including short term cultures of relapsed tumors from current treatments, independent of the mutation status of BRAF or NRAS. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we examined the effects of these treatments on the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures. The combination therapy reduces tumor formation significantly compared to either drug alone. Mechanistic studies using shRNA and the CRISPR-Cas9 technology demonstrated that the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins NOXA and BIM contribute to the combination-induced cell death. These results indicate that the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 combined with ABT-737 is a promising treatment strategy for targeting melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Almeida
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Karoline Lambert
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Chung-Wai Shiau
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chen Su
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuchun Luo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven E Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David A Norris
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
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11
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Mukherjee N, Almeida A, Partyka KA, Lu Y, Schwan JV, Lambert K, Rogers M, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, Applegate AJ, Amato CM, Luo Y, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Combining a GSI and BCL-2 inhibitor to overcome melanoma's resistance to current treatments. Oncotarget 2018; 7:84594-84607. [PMID: 27829238 PMCID: PMC5356684 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Major limitations of current melanoma treatments are for instances of relapse and the lack of therapeutic options for BRAF wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy. Many studies therefore focus on killing resistant subpopulations, such as Melanoma Initiating Cells (MICs) to prevent relapse. Here we examined whether combining a GSI (γ-Secretase Inhibitor) with ABT-737 (a small molecule BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) can kill both the non-MICs (bulk of melanoma) and MICs. To address the limitations of melanoma therapies, we included multiple tumor samples of patients relapsed from current treatments, with a diverse genetic background (with or without the common BRAF, NRAS or NF1 mutations) in these studies. Excitingly, the combination treatment reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of the non-MICs; disrupted primary spheres, decreased the ALDH+ cells, and inhibited the self-renewability of the MICs in multiple melanoma cell lines and relapsed patient samples. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures from relapsed patient samples. Mechanistic studies also indicate that cell death is NOXA-dependent. In summary, this combination may be a promising strategy to address treatment relapse and for triple wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Adam Almeida
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Katie A Partyka
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Josianna V Schwan
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Karoline Lambert
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Madison Rogers
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Steven E Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Allison J Applegate
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Carol M Amato
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yuchun Luo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A Norris
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO 80220, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Park SC, Zeng C, Tschudy-Seney B, Nguyen NT, Eun JR, Zhang Y, Ramsamooj R, Zhang Y, Zhao M, Theise ND, Zhou H, Zern MA, Duan Y. Clonogenically Culturing and Expanding CD34+ Liver Cancer Stem Cells in Vitro. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1506-14. [PMID: 25867583 PMCID: PMC4499771 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A large number of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been isolated and identified; however, none has been cultured in an unlimited manner in vitro without losing tumorigenicity and multipotency. In this study, we successfully clonogenically cultured a newly identified CD34+ liver CSC (LCSC) on feeder cells up to 22 passages (to date) without losing CSC property. Cloned CD34+ LCSC formed a round packed morphology and it could also be cryopreserved and recultured. Stem cell markers, CD34, CD117, and SOX2; normal liver stem cell markers, alpha fetoprotein, CK19, CK18, and OV6; putative CSC markers, CD44, CD133, EpCAM, and CD90; as well as CD31 were expressed in cloned CD34+ LCSC. SOX2 was the major factor in maintaining this LCSC before colonization, and interestingly, OCT4, SOX2, NAONG, Klf4, c-Myc, and Lin28 were upregulated in association with symmetric self-renewal for colony growth of CD34+ LCSC on feeder cells. Gene expression patterns of in vitro differentiation were consistent with our in vivo finding; furthermore, the tumorigenicity of cloned CD34+ LCSC was not different from uncloned CD34+ LCSC sorted from parental PLC. These results show that our cloned CD34+ LCSC maintained CSC property, including self-renewal, bipotency, and tumorigenicity after long-term culture, demonstrating that this LCSC can be cultured in an unlimited manner in vitro. Thus, establishing pure population of CSCs isolated from the patients will provide an opportunity to explore the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and cancer development, and to identify unique biomarkers presenting potential indicators of drug efficacy against CSCs for establishment of a novel strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Cheol Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Changjun Zeng
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Benjamin Tschudy-Seney
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Ngoc Tue Nguyen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Jong Ryeol Eun
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yanling Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- School of Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rajendra Ramsamooj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Yanghong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Neil D. Theise
- Department of Pathology and of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Huaijun Zhou
- Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis, Davis, California
| | - Mark A. Zern
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Yuyou Duan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
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13
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Combining a BCL2 inhibitor with the retinoid derivative fenretinide targets melanoma cells including melanoma initiating cells. J Invest Dermatol 2014; 135:842-850. [PMID: 25350317 PMCID: PMC4323853 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2014.464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Investigations from multiple laboratories support the existence of melanoma initiating cells (MICs) that potentially contribute to melanoma's drug resistance. ABT-737, a small molecule BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor, is promising in cancer treatments, but not very effective against melanoma, with the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 as the main contributor to resistance. The synthetic retinoid fenretinide (4-HPR) has shown promise for treating breast cancers. Here, we tested whether the combination of ABT-737 with 4-HPR is effective in killing both the bulk of melanoma cells and MICs. The combination synergistically decreased cell viability and caused cell death in multiple melanoma cells lines (carrying either BRAF or NRAS mutations), but not in normal melanocytes. The combination increased the NOXA expression and caspase-dependent MCL-1 degradation. Knocking-down NOXA protected cells from combination-induced apoptosis, implicating the role of NOXA in the drug synergy. The combination treatment also disrupted primary spheres (a functional assay for MICs) and decreased the percentage of ALDHhigh cells (a marker of MICs) in melanoma cell lines. Moreover, the combination inhibited the self-renewal capacity of MICs, measured by secondary sphere forming assays. In vivo, the combination inhibited tumor growth. Thus, this combination is a promising treatment strategy for melanoma, regardless of mutation status of BRAF or NRAS.
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14
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Eun JR, Jung YJ, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Tschudy-Seney B, Ramsamooj R, Wan YJY, Theise ND, Zern MA, Duan Y. Hepatoma SK Hep-1 cells exhibit characteristics of oncogenic mesenchymal stem cells with highly metastatic capacity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110744. [PMID: 25338121 PMCID: PMC4206444 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SK Hep-1 cells (SK cells) derived from a patient with liver adenocarcinoma have been considered a human hepatoma cell line with mesenchymal origin characteristics, however, SK cells do not express liver genes and exhibit liver function, thus, we hypothesized whether mesenchymal cells might contribute to human liver primary cancers. Here, we characterized SK cells and its tumourigenicity. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We found that classical mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers were presented on SK cells, but endothelial marker CD31, hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45 were negative. SK cells are capable of differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts as adipose-derived MSC (Ad-MSC) and bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC) do. Importantly, a single SK cell exhibited a substantial tumourigenicity and metastatic capacity in immunodefficient mice. Metastasis not only occurred in circulating organs such as lung, liver, and kidneys, but also in muscle, outer abdomen, and skin. SK cells presented greater in vitro invasive capacity than those of Ad-MSC and BM-MSC. The xenograft cells from subcutaneous and metastatic tumors exhibited a similar tumourigenicity and metastatic capacity, and showed the same relatively homogenous population with MSC characteristics when compared to parental SK cells. SK cells could unlimitedly expand in vitro without losing MSC characteristics, its tumuorigenicity and metastatic capacity, indicating that SK cells are oncogenic MSC with enhanced self-renewal capacity. We believe that this is the first report that human MSC appear to be transformed into cancer stem cells (CSC), and that their derivatives also function as CSCs. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that SK cells represent a transformation mechanism of normal MSC into an enhanced self-renewal CSC with metastasis capacity, SK cells and their xenografts represent a same relative homogeneity of CSC with substantial metastatic capacity. Thus, it represents a novel mechanism of tumor initiation, development and metastasis by CSCs of non-epithelial and endothelia origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Ryeol Eun
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yong Jin Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yanling Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- School of Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Tschudy-Seney
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Rajen Ramsamooj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Neil D. Theise
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Zern
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Yuyou Duan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, United States of America
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