title: Fusion with stem cell makes the hepatocellular carcinoma cells similar to liver tumor-initiating cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell fusion is a fast and highly efficient technique for cells to acquire new properties. The fusion of somatic cells with stem cells can reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. Our research on the fusion of stem cells and cancer cells demonstrates that the fused cells can exhibit stemness and cancer cell-like characteristics. Thus, tumor-initiating cell-like cells are generated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed laser-induced single-cell fusion technique to fuse the hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human embryonic stem cells (hESC). Real-time RT-PCR, flow cytometry and in vivo tumorigenicity assay were adopted to identify the gene expression difference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We successfully produced a fused cell line that coalesces the gene expression information of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and stem cells. Experimental results showed that the fused cells expressed cancer and stemness markers as well as exhibited increased resistance to drug treatment and enhanced tumorigenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fusion with stem cells transforms liver cancer cells into tumor initiating-like cells. Results indicate that fusion between cancer cell and stem cell may generate tumor initiating-like cells.
authors: Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. ranwang7-c@my.cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Ran
authors: R
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. shuxuchen2@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Shuxun
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. doclicx20@163.com.
authors: Changxian
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. ledodes@hku.hk.
authors: Kevin Tak Pan
authors: KT
authors: Ng
authors: Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. marcokong@hku.hk.
authors: Chi-wing
authors: CW
authors: Kong
authors: Environmental Science Program, School of Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China. jinpingcheng@gmail.com.
authors: Jinping
authors: J
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. bhcheng@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Shuk Han
authors: SH
authors: Cheng
authors: Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. lironald@me.com.
authors: Ronald A
authors: RA
authors: Li
authors: Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. chungmlo@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors: Chung Mau
authors: CM
authors: Lo
authors: Department of Surgery, Li Ka-Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. kwanman@hku.hk.
authors: Kwan
authors: K
authors: Man
authors: Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. medsun@cityu.edu.hk.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007834:Lasers; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins