title: The potential role of CD133 in immune surveillance and apoptosis: a mitochondrial connection?
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Recent research has shown that tumors contain a small subpopulation of stem-like cells that are more resistant to therapy and that are likely to produce second-line tumors.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) have been characterized by a variety of markers, including, for a number of types of cancer, high expression of the plasma membrane protein CD133, which is also indicative of the increase of stemness of cultured cancer cells growing as spheres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the function of this protein has not yet been clearly defined, it may have a role in the stem-like phenotype of CSCs that cause (re-)initiation of tumors as well as their propagation. We hypothesize that CD133 selects for CSC survival against not only immunosurveillance mechanisms but also stress-induced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High level of expression of CD133 may be a useful marker of more aggressive tumors that are recalcitrant toward established therapies. Compelling preliminary data indicate that drugs targeting mitochondria may be utilized as a novel, efficient cancer therapeutic modality.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zobalova
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prokopova
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stantic
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stapelberg
authors.forename: Lan-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ralph
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akporiaye
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neuzil
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000235:genetics; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides