title: Integrin α7 is a functional cancer stem cell surface marker in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Non-CG methylation has been associated with stemness regulation in embryonic stem cells. By comparing differentially expressed genes affected by non-CG methylation between tumour and corresponding non-tumour tissues in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we find that Integrin α7 (ITGA7) is characterized as a potential cancer stem cell (CSC) marker. Clinical data show that a high frequency of ITGA7+cells in OSCC tissues is significantly associated with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and worse prognosis. Functional studies demonstrate that both sorted ITGA7+cells and ITGA7 overexpressing cells display enhanced stemness features, including elevated expression of stemness-associated genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition features, as well as increased abilities to self-renew, differentiate and resist chemotherapy. Mechanistic studies find that ITGA7 regulates CSC properties through the activation of the FAK-mediated signalling pathways. As knockdown of ITGA7 can effectively reduce the stemness of OSCC cells, ITGA7 could be a potential therapeutic target in OSCC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|Centre for Cancer Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine of Tumor and Cancer Research Centre, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2643-6278
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|Centre for Cancer Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.
authors.forename: Li-Yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine of Tumor and Cancer Research Centre, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.
authors.forename: Kwok Wah
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|Centre for Cancer Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 852, China.|State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yuan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4485-6017
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; C085725:integrin alpha7