title: Mesenchymal stem cells expressing GD2 and CD271 correlate with breast cancer-initiating cells in bone marrow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The bone marrow microenvironment is considered a critical component in the dissemination and fate of cancer cells in the metastatic process. We explored the possible correlation between bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) and disseminated breast cancer-initiating cells (BCIC) in primary breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) were collected at the time of primary surgery in 12 breast cancer patients. BM-MNC was immunophenotyped and BCIC was defined as epithelial cells (CD326+CD45-) with a "stem-like" phenotype (CD44+CD24low/-, ALDH activity). BM-MSC was defined as CD34-CD45-cells that co-expressed GD2, CD271, and/or CD200 within CD326-depleted BM-MNC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of BCIC (Aldefluor+CD326+CD44+CD24-) correlated with the percentages of BM-MSC, either CD45-GD2+CD200+CD271+ (Kedall's tau = 0.684, p = 0.004) or CD45-GD2+CD271+ in the bone marrow (Kedall's tau = 0.464, p = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a positive correlation between mesenchymal stem cells expressing GD2 and CD271 and breast cancer-initiating cells in BM of patients with primary breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola, Italy. u.degiorgi@irst.emr.it
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: Evan N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mego
authors.forename: Bang-Ning
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lodhi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cristofanilli
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucci
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reuben
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D005732:Gangliosides; C019403:ganglioside, GD2