title: OV6+cancer stem cells drive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through ATG7-dependent β-catenin stabilization.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that exhibit capacities for tumor initiation and progression. Identifying CSCs and their related pathways is necessary for the development of new therapeutic targets against tumors. However, the molecular mechanism of CSCs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains elusive. This study demonstrated that OV6 expression was closely associated with ESCC patients' clinical outcome and prognosis. OV6+cells possessed stronger stem-like properties, including self-renewal, stem cell-associated gene expression, tumorigenicity, chemo-resistance, invasion, and metastasis. Autophagy maintained the stem-like properties of OV6+cells by stabilizing ATG7-dependent β-catenin. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation between ATG7 and OV6 expression was detected in human ESCC biopsies, and this correlation could be used to predict ESCC patients' prognosis. Taken together, our findings provide a novel potential CSC marker for ESCC. OV6+cancer stem cells can promote the progression of ESCC through ATG7-dependent β-catenin stabilization. OV6 may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Hepatobiliary Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China; Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Fei-Hu
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Fengyang Road, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Shu
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Data Scientist, Liberty Mutual Group, 157 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: He-Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China. Electronic address: drzhaotiejun@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Tie-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D051176:beta Catenin; C115011:oval cell marker OV-6
keywords: ATG7; CSCs; ESCC; OV6; β-Catenin