Significance of CD90+ cancer stem cells in human liver cancer.
This study characterized cancer stem cells (CSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, tumor specimens, and blood samples. The CD90+ cells, but not the CD90(-) cells, from HCC cell lines displayed tumorigenic capacity. All the tumor specimens and 91.6% of blood samples from liver cancer patients bore the CD45(-)CD90+ population, which could generate tumor nodules in immunodeficient mice. The CD90+CD44+ cells demonstrated a more aggressive phenotype than the CD90+CD44(-) counterpart and formed metastatic lesions in the lung of immunodeficient mice. CD44 blockade prevented the formation of local and metastatic tumor nodules by the CD90+ cells. Differential gene expression profiles were identified in the CD45(-)CD90+ and CD45(-)CD90(-) cells isolated from tissue and blood samples from liver cancer patients and controls.
Yang
Zhen Fan
ZF
Center for Cancer Research and Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. zfyang@hkucc.hku.hk <zfyang@hkucc.hku.hk>
Ho
David W
DW
Ng
Michael N
MN
Lau
Chi Keung
CK
Yu
Wan Ching
WC
Ngai
Patricia
P
Chu
Patrick W K
PW
Lam
Chi Tat
CT
Poon
Ronnie T P
RT
Fan
Sheung Tat
ST
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002469:Cell Separation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens