title: A stem cell gene expression profile of human squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: To investigate the relationship between stem cells in normal epithelium and in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), we examined expression of a panel of human epidermal stem cell markers in SCCs and SCC cell lines. Markers that are co-expressed in normal stem cells were not co-expressed in SCC. Downregulation of two markers, Lrig1 and MAP4, and upregulation of a third, MCSP, correlated with poor differentiation status and increased proliferation in primary tumours. We conclude that SCCs do not reflect a simple expansion of stem cells; rather, tumour cells hijack the homeostatic controls that operate in normal stem cells, eliminating those that maintain stem cell quiescence.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kim B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Watt
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins