title: Stem-like tumor cells confer drug resistant properties to mantle cell lymphoma.
abstract: We recently identified clonogenic malignant stem cell populations in human mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a particularly deadly subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We discovered that CD45+CD19- MCL cells, which we termed MCL-initiating cells (MCL-ICs), are highly tumorigenic and display self-renewal capacity in vivo; in contrast, CD45+CD19+ MCL cells, which constitute the vast majority of cells within the tumors, show no self-renewal capacity and greatly reduced tumorigenicity. Given the newly appreciated role of cancer-initiating cells in the drug resistance of cancers, it is critical to investigate whether CD45+CD19- MCL-ICs play a role in the drug resistance of human MCL. We discovered that MCL-ICs were more resistant to clinically relevant chemotherapeutic agents, in combination or in a single regimen, compared to CD45+CD19+ cells, and that this drug resistance was largely due to quiescent properties with enriched ABC transporters. In conclusion, designing novel therapies to kill CD45+CD19- MCL-ICs may prevent relapse and increase patient survival.
authors: Center for Stem Cell Research, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM), University of Texas-Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors: Hyun Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Jung
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Nami
authors: N
authors: McCarty