CD13 is a therapeutic target in human liver cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are generally dormant or slowly cycling tumor cells that have the ability to reconstitute tumors. They are thought to be involved in tumor resistance to chemo/radiation therapy and tumor relapse and progression. However, neither their existence nor their identity within many cancers has been well defined. Here, we have demonstrated that CD13 is a marker for semiquiescent CSCs in human liver cancer cell lines and clinical samples and that targeting these cells might provide a way to treat this disease. CD13+ cells predominated in the G0 phase of the cell cycle and typically formed cellular clusters in cancer foci. Following treatment, these cells survived and were enriched along the fibrous capsule where liver cancers usually relapse. Mechanistically, CD13 reduced ROS-induced DNA damage after genotoxic chemo/radiation stress and protected cells from apoptosis. In mouse xenograft models, combination of a CD13 inhibitor and the genotoxic chemotherapeutic fluorouracil (5-FU) drastically reduced tumor volume compared with either agent alone. 5-FU inhibited CD90+ proliferating CSCs, some of which produce CD13+ semiquiescent CSCs, while CD13 inhibition suppressed the self-renewing and tumor-initiating ability of dormant CSCs. Therefore, combining a CD13 inhibitor with a ROS-inducing chemo/radiation therapy may improve the treatment of liver cancer.
Haraguchi
Naotsugu
N
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Ishii
Hideshi
H
Mimori
Koshi
K
Tanaka
Fumiaki
F
Ohkuma
Masahisa
M
Kim
Ho Min
HM
Akita
Hirofumi
H
Takiuchi
Daisuke
D
Hatano
Hisanori
H
Nagano
Hiroaki
H
Barnard
Graham F
GF
Doki
Yuichiro
Y
Mori
Masaki
M
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D005472:Fluorouracil