title: Technology update for the sorting and identification of breast cancer stem cells.
abstract: Breast cancer stem cells are a group of undifferentiated cells with self-renewal and multidifferentiation potential. Chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic resistance, hypoxic resistance, high tumorigenicity, high cell invasion, and metastatic abilities are characteristics of these cells, which are responsible for breast cancer recurrence. Therefore, the correct sorting and identification of breast cancer stem cells is a primary step for research in this field. This article briefly describes the recent progress on sorting and identification technologies for breast cancer stem cells. Sorting technologies include the side population technique, technologies that depend on cell surface markers, ALDEFLUOR assays, and in situ detection. Identification technologies include mammosphere cultures, limited dilution in vitro, and in-vivo animal models. This review provides an important reference for breast cancer stem cell research, which will explore new methods for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zeng-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000378:metabolism; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D058985:Side-Population Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D039503:Integrin alpha6; D019012:Integrin beta1; D039661:Integrin beta3; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; C510223:ALDH1A1 protein, human; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase