title: A novel method to limit breast cancer stem cells in states of quiescence, proliferation or differentiation: Use of gel stress in combination with stem cell growth factors.
abstract: The majority of cancer stem cells exist in the G0, or quiescent phase of the cell cycle. However, the cells can escape quiescence following routine radiotherapy and chemotherapy, resulting in tumor recurrence. Presently, achieving the accurate regulation of cancer stem cell growth in order to study a specific state, including the quiescent (mostly G0 or G1 phase), proliferative (mostly S phase) or differential (mostly G2/M phase) states, can be challenging. This makes the determination of cell cycle state-specific characteristics and analysis of potential intervention treatments difficult, particularly for quiescent cells. Breast cancer stem cells were cultured on a soft or hard agar matrix surface in the presence or absence of stem cell growth factors. Cells could be successfully limited in either the quiescent, proliferative or differentiated states. These findings provide a foundation for further study of the cell cycle in breast cancer stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Esophageal Neoplasms, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital, Tianjin 300450, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin 300100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital, Tianjin 300450, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaozhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: breast cancer; cell cycle; growth factor; tumor stem cells