Melanoma stem cells: the dark seed of melanoma.
Cells with stem-cell markers and features have recently been identified in melanoma tissues and cell lines. Melanoma stem-like cells possess many traits of tumor-initiating or tumor stem cells including self-renewal capacity, high tumorigenicity, and differentiation into various mesenchymal lineages, including melanocytic cells. Four subpopulations of melanoma-initiating cells have been distinguished: CD20(+), CD133(+), label-retaining or slow-cycling cells, and side-population cells with high efflux activities. Whether these are distinct or overlapping populations is currently under investigation. Ongoing studies are dissecting and characterizing the hierarchy of these subpopulations within a malignant lesion. Understanding these and the dynamics of clonal dominance will aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Susan E
SE
Zabierowski
Meenhard
M
Herlyn
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides