title: A CD90(+) tumor-initiating cell population with an aggressive signature and metastatic capacity in esophageal cancer.
abstract: Tumor-initiating cells (TIC), also known as cancer stem cells, are regarded widely as a specific subpopulation of cells needed for cancer initiation and progression. TICs have yet to be identified in esophageal tumors that have an increasing incidence in developed countries. Here, we report a CD90(+) cell population found in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which is endowed with stem cell-like properties and high tumorigenic and metastatic potential. mRNA profiling of these cells suggested pathways through which they drive tumor growth and metastasis, with deregulation of an Ets-1/MMP signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition figuring prominently. These cells possessed higher self-renewal activity and were sufficient for tumor growth, differentiation, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. CD90(+) TICs were isolated and characterized from ESCC clinical specimens as well as ESCC cell lines. In freshly resected clinical specimens, they represented a rare cell population, the levels of which correlated with strong family histories and lymph node metastasis. Our results prompt further study of this CD90(+) population of esophageal TICs as potential therapeutic targets.
authors: Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Kwan Ho
authors: KH
authors: Tang
authors: Yong Dong
authors: YD
authors: Dai
authors: Man
authors: M
authors: Tong
authors: Yuen Piu
authors: YP
authors: Chan
authors: Pak Shing
authors: PS
authors: Kwan
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Fu
authors: Yan Ru
authors: YR
authors: Qin
authors: Sai Wah
authors: SW
authors: Tsao
authors: Hong Lok
authors: HL
authors: Lung
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Lung
authors: Daniel K
authors: DK
authors: Tong
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Law
authors: Kwok Wah
authors: KW
authors: Chan
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Ma
authors: Xin Yuan
authors: XY
authors: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens