title: CD271 defines a stem cell-like population in hypopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: Cancer stem cells contribute to the malignant phenotypes of a variety of cancers, but markers to identify human hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) stem cells remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the CD271(+) population sorted from xenotransplanted HPCs possesses an enhanced tumor-initiating capability in immunodeficient mice. Tumors generated from the CD271(+) cells contained both CD271(+) and CD271(-) cells, indicating that the population could undergo differentiation. Immunohistological analyses of the tumors revealed that the CD271(+) cells localized to a perivascular niche near CD34(+) vasculature, to invasive fronts, and to the basal layer. In accordance with these characteristics, a stemness marker, Nanog, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are implicated in cancer invasion, were significantly up-regulated in the CD271(+) compared to the CD271 (-) cell population. Furthermore, using primary HPC specimens, we demonstrated that high CD271 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis for patients. Taken together, our findings indicate that CD271 is a novel marker for HPC stem-like cells and for HPC prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Natori, Miyagi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oizumi
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oyama
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Ikuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kennichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saijo
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamura
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D002945:Cisplatin