title: Betulinic Acid Kills Colon Cancer Stem Cells.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be the origin of cancer and it is suggested that they are resistant to chemotherapy. Current therapies fail to eradicate CSCs and therefore selecting a resistant cell subset that is able to facilitate tumor recurrences. Betulinic acid (BetA) is a broad acting natural compound, shown to induce cell death via the inhibition of the stearoyl-CoA- desaturase (SCD- 1). This enzyme converts saturated fatty acids into unsaturated fatty acids and is over-expressed in tumor cells. Here we show that BetA induces rapid cell death in all colon CSCs tested and is able to affect the CSCs directly as shown, via the loss of clonogenic capacity. Similar results were observed with inhibition of SCD-1, suggesting that SCD-1 activity is indeed a vulnerable link in colon CSCs and can be considered an ideal target for therapy in colon cancer.
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potze
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: di Franco
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology (LEXOR), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. j.p.medema@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Jan Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Medema
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002999:Clone Cells; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D000094062:Betulinic Acid