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Borlongan MC, Saha D, Wang H. Tumor Microenvironment: A Niche for Cancer Stem Cell Immunotherapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:3-24. [PMID: 37861969 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10639-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenic Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), often called tumor-initiating cells (TICs), represent a unique subset of cells within the tumor milieu. They stand apart from the bulk of tumor cells due to their exceptional self-renewal, metastatic, and differentiation capabilities. Despite significant progress in classifying CSCs, these cells remain notably resilient to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, contributing to cancer recurrence. In this review, our objective is to explore novel avenues of research that delve into the distinctive characteristics of CSCs within their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). We will start with an overview of the defining features of CSCs and then delve into their intricate interactions with cells from the lymphoid lineage, namely T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, we will discuss their dynamic interplay with myeloid lineage cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Moreover, we will illuminate the crosstalk between CSCs and cells of mesenchymal origin, specifically fibroblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. Subsequently, we will underscore the pivotal role of CSCs within the context of the tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM). Finally, we will highlight pre-clinical and clinical studies that target CSCs within the intricate landscape of the TME, including CAR-T therapy, oncolytic viruses, and CSC-vaccines, with the ultimate goal of uncovering novel avenues for CSC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia C Borlongan
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA
| | - Dipongkor Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
| | - Hongbin Wang
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Master Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Graduate Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Department of Basic Science College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
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Yang C, Xiao W, Wang R, Hu Y, Yi K, Sun X, Wang G, Xu X. Tumor organoid model of colorectal cancer (Review). Oncol Lett 2023; 26:328. [PMID: 37415635 PMCID: PMC10320425 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of self-organizing 'mini-gut' organoid models has brought about a significant breakthrough in biomedical research. Patient-derived tumor organoids have emerged as valuable tools for preclinical studies, offering the retention of genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the original tumor. These organoids have applications in various research areas, including in vitro modelling, drug discovery and personalized medicine. The present review provided an overview of intestinal organoids, focusing on their unique characteristics and current understanding. The progress made in colorectal cancer (CRC) organoid models was then delved into, discussing their role in drug development and personalized medicine. For instance, it has been indicated that patient-derived tumor organoids are able to predict response to irinotecan-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Furthermore, the limitations and challenges associated with current CRC organoid models were addressed, along with proposed strategies for enhancing their utility in future basic and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
| | - Wangwen Xiao
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Yan Hu
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
| | - Ke Yi
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
| | - Guanghui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215400, P.R. China
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Differential epithelial and stromal LGR5 expression in ovarian carcinogenesis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11200. [PMID: 35778589 PMCID: PMC9249864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15234-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Lgr5 has been identified as a marker of the stem/progenitor cells in the murine ovary and oviduct by lineage tracing. However, little is known regarding LGR5 expression or its functional significance in human ovary tissues. Here, using RNA in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry, we thoroughly investigated LGR5 expression in normal human ovaries, fallopian tubes and various ovarian tumors. We discovered that LGR5 expression is negligible in the human ovary surface epithelium, whereas ovarian stromal cells normally express low levels of LGR5. Remarkably, fallopian tube epithelium, inclusion cysts and serous cystadenomas with a Müllerian phenotype expressed high levels of LGR5, and LGR5 expression was restricted to PAX8+/FOXJ1- secretory cells of the tubal epithelium. Strong stromal LGR5 expression without epithelial LGR5 expression was consistently observed in the path from serous cystadenoma to serous borderline tumor to low grade serous carcinoma (LGSC). Unlike LGSC, high grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), clear cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinomas displayed various epithelial-stromal LGR5 expression. Notably, high levels of LGR5 expression were observed in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, which slightly declined in invasive HGSC. LGR5 expression was significantly associated with improved progression-free survival in HGSC patients. Moreover, in vitro assays demonstrated that LGR5 expression suppressed tumor proliferation and migratory capabilities. Taken together, these findings indicate a tumor-suppressive role for LGR5 in the progression of HGSC.
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Pluripotency Stemness and Cancer: More Questions than Answers. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1376:77-100. [PMID: 34725790 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells provided us with fascinating new knowledge in recent years. Mechanistic insight into intricate regulatory circuitry governing pluripotency stemness and disclosing parallels between pluripotency stemness and cancer instigated numerous studies focusing on roles of pluripotency transcription factors, including Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, Nanog, Sall4 and Tfcp2L1, in cancer. Although generally well substantiated as tumour-promoting factors, oncogenic roles of pluripotency transcription factors and their clinical impacts are revealing themselves as increasingly complex. In certain tumours, both Oct4 and Sox2 behave as genuine oncogenes, and reporter genes driven by composite regulatory elements jointly recognized by both the factors can identify stem-like cells in a proportion of tumours. On the other hand, cancer stem cells seem to be biologically very heterogeneous both among different tumour types and among and even within individual tumours. Pluripotency transcription factors are certainly implicated in cancer stemness, but do not seem to encompass its entire spectrum. Certain cancer stem cells maintain their stemness by biological mechanisms completely different from pluripotency stemness, sometimes even by engaging signalling pathways that promote differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, while these signalling pathways may well be antithetical to stemness in pluripotent stem cells, they may cooperate with pluripotency factors in cancer stem cells - a paradigmatic example is provided by the MAPK-AP-1 pathway. Unexpectedly, forced expression of pluripotency transcription factors in cancer cells frequently results in loss of their tumour-initiating ability, their phenotypic reversion and partial epigenetic normalization. Besides the very different signalling contexts operating in pluripotent and cancer stem cells, respectively, the pronounced dose dependency of reprogramming pluripotency factors may also contribute to the frequent loss of tumorigenicity observed in induced pluripotent cancer cells. Finally, contradictory cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous effects of various signalling molecules operate during pluripotency (cancer) reprogramming. The effects of pluripotency transcription factors in cancer are thus best explained within the concept of cancer stem cell heterogeneity.
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Cancer Stem Cell-Related Marker NANOG Expression in Ovarian Serous Tumors: A Clinicopathological Study of 159 Cases. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2018; 27:2006-2013. [PMID: 28906309 DOI: 10.1097/igc.0000000000001105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to assess cancer stem cell-related marker NANOG expression in ovarian serous tumors and to evaluate its prognostic significance in relation to ovarian serous carcinoma. METHODS NANOG protein expression was immunohistochemically evaluated in the ovarian tissue microarrays of 20 patients with benign ovarian serous tumors, 30 patients with borderline ovarian serous tumors, and 109 patients with ovarian serous carcinomas, from which 106 were of high-grade and 3 of low-grade morphology Immunohistochemical reaction was scored according to signal intensity and the percentage of positive cells in tumor samples. Pursuant to our summation of signal intensity and positive cell occurrence, we divided our samples into 4 groups: NANOG-negative, NANOG-slightly positive, NANOG-moderately positive, and NANOG-strongly positive group. Complete clinical data were obtained for the ovarian serous carcinoma group, and correlation between clinical data and NANOG expression was analyzed. RESULTS A specific brown nuclear, or cytoplasmic reaction, was considered a positive NANOG staining. In terms of the ovarian serous carcinoma group, 69.7% were NANOG positive, 22.9% slightly positive, 22.9% moderately positive, and 23.9% strongly positive. All NANOG-positive cases were of high-grade morphology. Benign and borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinomas were NANOG negative. There was no significant correlation between NANOG expression and clinical parameters in terms of the ovarian serous carcinoma group. CONCLUSIONS Positive NANOG expression is significantly associated with high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma and is absent in benign, borderline, and low-grade serous lesions. In our study, there was no correlation between NANOG expression and clinical parameters, including its use in the prognosis of ovarian serous carcinoma.
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Ramos EK, Hoffmann AD, Gerson SL, Liu H. New Opportunities and Challenges to Defeat Cancer Stem Cells. Trends Cancer 2017; 3:780-796. [PMID: 29120754 PMCID: PMC5958547 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that are capable of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, plastic adaptation, and immune regulation, thereby mediating tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. CSCs are associated with cancer progression and clinical outcome in cancer patients. Successful targeting of CSCs will therefore be necessary to eradicate and cure cancer. Functional regulators of stem cell (stemness) signaling pathways in human cancers have brought new opportunities to target CSCs and reframe cancer-targeting strategies in clinical settings. However, challenges remain due to a lack of complete understanding of CSC plasticity/heterogeneity and the limited efficacy of individual stemness inhibitors in cancer treatment. In this article we review CSC signaling pathways and the current state of CSC-targeting therapeutics in combinatory treatments in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika K Ramos
- Driskill Graduate Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; These authors equally contributed to the manuscript preparation
| | - Andrew D Hoffmann
- Department Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; These authors equally contributed to the manuscript preparation
| | - Stanton L Gerson
- The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; The National Center for Regenerative Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Huiping Liu
- Department Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; The National Center for Regenerative Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Carter K, Rameshwar P, Ratajczak MZ, Kakar SS. Verrucarin J inhibits ovarian cancer and targets cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:92743-92756. [PMID: 29190952 PMCID: PMC5696218 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian Cancer is the fifth leading cause of death among women from cancer. Cancer stem cells are a small population of cells present in cancer and the cause of chemoresistance and recurrence of cancer. We tested a new compound "Verrucarin J (VJ)", a metabolite of the Myrothecium fungus family, and showed that VJ significantly inhibits cell proliferation of both cisplatin-sensitive (A2780 and OVCAR5) and cisplatin-resistant (A2780/CP70) cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC50 value of approximately 10 nM after 48 h of treatment. VJ was found to induce apoptosis, DNA damage, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment of A2780 cells with VJ resulted in a significant suppression of expression of CSCs markers including ALDH1, LGR5, NANOG and OCT4 in a dose-dependent manner, elimination of ALDH1+ CSC population and inhibition of expression of Notch1 and Wnt1 signaling pathways. Our study also showed that VJ inhibited the tumorigenic potential (spheroid formation on ultralow attachment plates) of isolated ALDH1+ CSCs in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. VJ resulted downregulation of expression of securin an "oncogene" involved in tumor growth and progression, indicating that securin may serve as a downstream signaling gene to mediate antitumor effects of VJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Carter
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Pranela Rameshwar
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Mariusz Z Ratajczak
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Sham S Kakar
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.,James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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Abstract
Advances in cancer research in the past have led to an evolving understanding of cancer pathogenesis and the development of novel drugs that significantly improve patient outcomes. However, many patients still encounter treatment resistance, recurrence, or metastasis and eventually die from progressing disease. Experimental evidence indicates that a subpopulation of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs), possess "stemness" properties similar to normal stem cells, including self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferative potential. These stemness properties are lost during differentiation and are governed by pathways such as STAT3, NANOG, NOTCH, WNT, and HEDGEHOG, which are highly dysregulated in CSCs due to genetic and epigenetic changes. Promising results have been observed in preclinical models targeting these CSCs through the disruption of stemness pathways in combination with current treatment modalities. This has led to anti-CSC-based clinical trials in multiple stages of development. In this review, we discuss the role of CSCs and stemness pathways in cancer treatment and how they relate to clinical observations. Because CSCs and the stemness pathways governing them may explain the negative clinical outcomes observed during treatment, it is important for oncologists to understand how they contribute to cancer progression and how they may be targeted to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave., NC10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Huiping Liu
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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Virant-Klun I, Kenda-Suster N, Smrkolj S. Small putative NANOG, SOX2, and SSEA-4-positive stem cells resembling very small embryonic-like stem cells in sections of ovarian tissue in patients with ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res 2016; 9:12. [PMID: 26940129 PMCID: PMC4778328 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-016-0221-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In previous studies it has been found that in cell cultures of human adult ovaries there is a population of small stem cells with diameters of 2-4 μm, which are present mainly in the ovarian surface epithelium and are comparable to very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) from bone marrow. These cells are not observed by histopathologists in the ovarian tissue due to their small size and unknown clinical significance. Because these cells express a degree of pluripotency, they might be involved in the manifestation of ovarian cancer. Therefore we studied the ovarian tissue sections in women with borderline ovarian cancer and serous ovarian carcinoma to perhaps identify the small putative stem cells in situ. METHODS In 27 women with borderline ovarian cancer and 20 women with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma the ovarian tissue sections were stained, per standard practice, with eosin and hematoxylin staining and on NANOG, SSEA-4 and SOX2 markers, related to pluripotency, using immunohistochemistry. We focused on the presence and localization of small putative stem cells with diameters of up to 5 μm and with the nuclei spread over nearly the full cell volume. RESULTS In ovarian sections of both borderline ovarian cancer and serous ovarian carcinoma patients we were able to identify the presence of small round cells complying with the above criteria. Some of these small cells were NANOG-positive, were located among epithelial cells in the ovarian surface epithelium and as a single cell or groups of cells/clusters in typical "chambers", were found only in the presence of ovarian cancer and not in healthy ovaries and are comparable to those in fetal ovaries. We envision that these small cells could be related to NANOG-positive tumor-like structures and oocyte-like cells in similar "chambers" found in sections of cancerous ovaries, which could support their stemness and pluripotency. Further immunohistochemistry revealed a similar population of SSEA-4 and SOX2-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS We may conclude that putative small stem cells expressing markers, related to pluripotency, are present in the ovarian tissue sections of women with borderline ovarian cancer and high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma thus indicating their potential involvement in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Virant-Klun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Natasa Kenda-Suster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Spela Smrkolj
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Hadjimichael C, Chanoumidou K, Papadopoulou N, Arampatzi P, Papamatheakis J, Kretsovali A. Common stemness regulators of embryonic and cancer stem cells. World J Stem Cells 2015; 7:1150-1184. [PMID: 26516408 PMCID: PMC4620423 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i9.1150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells is regulated by a well characterized gene transcription circuitry. The circuitry is assembled by ESC specific transcription factors, signal transducing molecules and epigenetic regulators. Growing understanding of stem-like cells, albeit of more complex phenotypes, present in tumors (cancer stem cells), provides a common conceptual and research framework for basic and applied stem cell biology. In this review, we highlight current results on biomarkers, gene signatures, signaling pathways and epigenetic regulators that are common in embryonic and cancer stem cells. We discuss their role in determining the cell phenotype and finally, their potential use to design next generation biological and pharmaceutical approaches for regenerative medicine and cancer therapies.
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Sun Y, Jia X, Wu X. High Expressions of Lgr5 and ALDH1 in Primary Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Correlate with Advanced Tumor Stage and Grade as well as Poor Prognosis of the Patients. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2015; 81:000431222. [PMID: 26113008 DOI: 10.1159/000431222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) expressions in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and their prognostic significance. METHODS One hundred primary EOC samples were obtained for immunohistochemical analysis of ALDH1 and Lgr5 expressions. Correlation analysis was performed between ALDH1 or Lgr5 and clinical factors. RESULTS High expression of ALDH1 and Lgr5 was identified in 71 and 55 cases of EOC tissues, respectively. The ALDH1 and Lgr5 expressions in EOC tissues were significantly higher as compared to the normal ovaries and benign ovarian tumors. High expression of ALDH1 and Lgr5 was strongly correlated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages, higher tumor grades, and poor overall survival of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Lgr5 and ALDH1 were highly expressed in EOC tissues, and correlated with different FIGO operation-pathological stages and tumor grades, clinical outcome, and with each other. The combined use of ALDH1 and Lgr5 might be useful for the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of EOC patients. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, PR China
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Ahmed N, Abubaker K, Findlay JK. Ovarian cancer stem cells: Molecular concepts and relevance as therapeutic targets. Mol Aspects Med 2014; 39:110-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2013.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Sun AX, Liu CJ, Sun ZQ, Wei Z. NANOG: A promising target for digestive malignant tumors. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:13071-13078. [PMID: 25278701 PMCID: PMC4177486 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NANOG has been extensively researched since its discovery by Chambers et al. NANOG is a homeodomain transcription factor and an essential regulator of embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal, which inhibits differentiation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells that are thought to drive uncontrolled tumor growth; CSCs retain the tumor capabilities of self-renewal and propagation. The existence of CSCs was recently shown by direct experimental evidence. NANOG is expressed in CSCs and ESCs, although it remains unclear whether ESCs and CSCs share similar mechanisms in the regulation of physical and biological processes. Several studies suggest that the expression level of NANOG is high in cancer tissues and low or absent in normal tissues. High levels of NANOG expression are associated with advanced stages of cancer and a poor prognosis, indicating that it plays a vital role in tumor transformation, tumorigenesis, and tumor metastasis. NANOG is part of a complex regulatory network that controls cell fate determination, proliferation, and apoptosis. NANOG cooperates with other regulators, such as microflora, transcription factors, and kinases, in cancer cells. NANOG might have a promising future in anti-cancer and other therapeutic treatments, which could improve human health.
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14
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Huang CE, Yu CC, Hu FW, Chou MY, Tsai LL. Enhanced chemosensitivity by targeting Nanog in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:14935-48. [PMID: 25158233 PMCID: PMC4200775 DOI: 10.3390/ijms150914935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemo-resistance is the major cause of high mortality in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) in which HNSCC-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be involved. Previously, we enriched a subpopulation of HNSCC-derived spheroid cells (SC) (HNSCC-SC) and identified Nanog as a CSCs marker. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Nanog in the chemosensitivity of HNSCC. The functional and clinicopathological studies of Nanog were investigated in HNSCC cells and specimens. Nanog expression was increased in HNSCC cell lines as compared to a normal oral epithelial cell line. Nanog upregulation in clinical tissues from HNSCC patients with recurrent and metastatic specimens relative to the mRNA levels in the samples from normal or primary tissues were examined. Targeting Nanog in HNSCC-SC significantly inhibited their tumorigenic and CSCs-like abilities and effectively increased the sensitivity of HNSCC-SC to chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin treatment. Targeting Nanog in HNSCC-SC showed a synergistic therapeutic effect with cisplatin. Our results suggest that targeting Nanog may have promising therapeutic potential for HNSCC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cisplatin/pharmacology
- Cisplatin/therapeutic use
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Epithelial Cells/drug effects
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/metabolism
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Nude
- Nanog Homeobox Protein
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Spheroids, Cellular/drug effects
- Spheroids, Cellular/metabolism
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-En Huang
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Chia Yu
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Fang-Wei Hu
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Yung Chou
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Lo-Lin Tsai
- School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Rd., Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
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Schreiber L, Raanan C, Amsterdam A. CD24 and Nanog identify stem cells signature of ovarian epithelium and cysts that may develop to ovarian cancer. Acta Histochem 2014; 116:399-406. [PMID: 24103524 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2013.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer. There is a general debate whether ovarian cancer is an intrinsic or an imported disease. We investigated whether in normal morphological appearance and in early stages of ovarian tumorgenesis typical cancer cell markers such as CD24 and Nanog are expressed. In 25% of normal appearing ovaries of post-menopausal women there was co-localization of CD24 and Nanog in the walls of the ovarian cysts, leaving the epithelial cells on the surface of these ovaries free of Nanog or CD24 expression. In benign ovarian tumors 37% of specimens were positive to CD24 and Nanog labeling while 26% of them were localized in the cyst walls. In contrast, in serous borderline tumors 79% specimens were labeled with CD24, 42% of them were localized in cysts and in 32% of them showed co-localization with CD24 and Nanog was evident: the rest were labeled in the ovarian epithelial cells. In serous ovarian carcinomas 81% specimens were labeled with CD24 antibodies. In 45% of them co-localization with Nanog was evident in the bulk of the cancerous tissue. In mucinous carcinomas no labeling with CD24 or Nanog was evident. In view of the synergistic effect of CD24 and Nanog expressed in malignant cancer development in other systems, it is suggested that such an analysis can be valuable for early detection of ovarian cancer. Moreover, the abundance of these markers in cysts in the development of ovarian cancer may suggest that they present an intrinsic source of the development of the highly malignant disease. Finally, since CD24 is exposed on the surface of the cancer cells, it may be highly beneficial to target these cells with antibodies to CD24 conjugated to cytotoxic drugs for more efficient treatment of this malignant disease.
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Mimeault M, Batra SK. Molecular biomarkers of cancer stem/progenitor cells associated with progression, metastases, and treatment resistance of aggressive cancers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014; 23:234-54. [PMID: 24273063 PMCID: PMC3977531 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-13-0785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The validation of novel diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tumor cells is of critical importance for optimizing the choice and efficacy of personalized therapies. Importantly, recent advances have led to the identification of gene-expression signatures in cancer cells, including cancer stem/progenitor cells, in the primary tumors, exosomes, circulating tumor cells (CTC), and disseminated cancer cells at distant metastatic sites. The gene-expression signatures may help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and predict the therapeutic responses and overall survival of patients with cancer. Potential biomarkers in cancer cells include stem cell-like markers [CD133, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), CD44, and CD24], growth factors, and their cognate receptors [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFRvIII, and HER2], molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT; vimentin, N-cadherin, snail, twist, and Zeb1), regulators of altered metabolism (phosphatidylinositol-3' kinase/Akt/mTOR), and drug resistance (multidrug transporters and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1). Moreover, different pluripotency-associated transcription factors (Oct3/4, Nanog, Sox2, and Myc) and microRNAs that are involved in the epigenetic reprogramming and acquisition of stem cell-like properties by cancer cells during cancer progression may also be exploited as molecular biomarkers to predict the risk of metastases, systemic treatment resistance, and disease relapse of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Mimeault
- Authors' Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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Wang ML, Chiou SH, Wu CW. Targeting cancer stem cells: emerging role of Nanog transcription factor. Onco Targets Ther 2013; 6:1207-20. [PMID: 24043946 PMCID: PMC3772775 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s38114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of stemness factors in cancer initiation and progression has drawn much attention recently, especially after the finding that introducing four stemness factors in somatic cells is able to reprogram the cells back to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Following accumulating data revealing abnormal elevated expression levels of key stemness factors, like Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2, in several types of cancer stem cells; the importance and therapeutic potential of targeting these stemness regulators in cancers has turned to research focus. Nanog determines cell fate in both embryonic and cancer stem cells; activating Nanog at an inappropriate time would result in cancer stem cells rather than normal pluripotent stem cells or differentiated somatic cells. Upregulated Nanog is correlated with poor survival outcome of patients with various types of cancer. The discoveries of downstream regulatory pathways directly or indirectly mediated by Nanog indicate that Nanog regulates several aspects of cancer development such as tumor cell proliferation, self-renewal, motility, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune evasion, and drug-resistance, which are all defined features for cancer stem cells. The current review paper illustrates the central role of Nanog in the regulatory networks of cancer malignant development and stemness acquirement, as well as in the communication between cancer cells and the surrounding stroma. Though a more defined model is needed to test the therapeutic efficacy of targeting Nanog as a cancer treatment method, current animal experiments using siNanog or shNanog have shown the promising therapeutic potential of Nanog targeting in several types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mong-Lien Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Amsterdam A, Raanan C, Schreiber L, Freyhan O, Fabrikant Y, Melzer E, Givol D. Differential localization of LGR5 and Nanog in clusters of colon cancer stem cells. Acta Histochem 2013; 115:320-9. [PMID: 23098761 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One paradigm of cancer development claims that cancer emerges at the niche of tissue stem cells and these cells continue to proliferate in the tumor as cancer stem cells. LGR5, a membrane receptor, was recently found to be a marker of normal colon stem cells in colon polyps and is also expressed in colon cancer stem cells. Nanog, an embryonic stem cell nuclear factor, is expressed in several embryonic tissues, but Nanog expression is not well documented in cancerous stem cells. Our aim was to examine whether both LGR5 and Nanog are expressed in the same clusters of colon stem cells or cancer stem cells, using immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies to each antigen. We analyzed this aspect using paraffin embedded tumor tissue sections obtained from 18 polyps and 36 colon cancer specimens at stages I-IV. Antibodies to LGR5 revealed membrane and cytoplasm immunostaining of scattered labeled cells in normal crypts, with no labeling of Nanog. However, in close proximity to the tumors, staining to LGR5 was much more intensive in the crypts, including that of the epithelial cells. In cancer tissue, positive LGR5 clusters of stem cells were observed mainly in poorly differentiated tumors and in only a few scattered cells in the highly differentiated tumors. In contrast, antibodies to Nanog mainly stained the growing edges of carcinoma cells, leaving the poorly differentiated tumor cells unlabeled, including the clustered stem cells that could be detected even by direct morphological examination. In polyp tissues, scattered labeled cells were immunostained with antibodies to Nanog and to a much lesser extent with antibodies to LGR5. We conclude that expression of LGR5 is probably specific to stem cells of poorly differentiated tumors, whereas Nanog is mainly expressed at the edges of highly differentiated tumors. However, some of the cell layers adjacent to the carcinoma cell layers that still remained undifferentiated, expressed mainly Nanog with only a few cells labeled with antibodies to LGR5. Considering the different sites and pattern of expression in the tumor, our data imply that targeting the clustered stem cells expressing LGR5 in poorly differentiated colon cancer may require different strategies than targeting the stem cells expressing Nanog in the highly differentiated tumors. Alternatively, combined application of specific inhibitory miRNAs to Nanog and to LGR5 expression may assist therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Amsterdam
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 234, Herzl Street, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Amsterdam A, Raanan C, Schreiber L, Polin N, Givol D. LGR5 and Nanog identify stem cell signature of pancreas beta cells which initiate pancreatic cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 433:157-62. [PMID: 23438436 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pancreas cancer, is the fourth leading cause of cancer death but its cell of origin is controversial. We compared the localization of stem cells in normal and cancerous pancreas using antibodies to the stem cell markers Nanog and LGR5. Here we show, for the first time, that LGR5 is expressed in normal pancreas, exclusively in the islets of Langerhans and it is co-localized, surprisingly, with Nanog and insulin in clusters of beta cells. In cancerous pancreas Nanog and LGR5 are expressed in the remaining islets and in all ductal cancer cells. We observed insulin staining among the ductal cancer cells, but not in metastases. This indicates that the islet's beta cells, expressing LGR5 and Nanog markers are the initiating cells of pancreas cancer, which migrated from the islets to form the ductal cancerous tissue, probably after mutation and de-differentiation. This discovery may facilitate treatment of this devastating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Amsterdam
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 234, Herzl Street, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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