McClellan Steven, Slamecka Jaroslav, Howze Patrick, Thompson Lee, Finan Michael, Rocconi Rodney, Owen Laurie
Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.
Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.
Methods. 2015 Jul 1;82:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.04.022. Epub 2015 Apr 25.
Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a distinct subpopulation within a tumor shown to drive tumor progression, metastasis, and recurrence. A review of the literature reveals poor consensus, with the use of a wide variety of surface markers and functional assays to identify and isolate cancer stem cells. Utilizing a novel technology that enables live-cell mRNA quantitation, we have demonstrated the ability to identify and sort viable CSC based on markers associated with stemness in pluripotent cells. Fresh tumor samples from a variety of cancer types were examined by flow cytometry for Nanog expression. Levels of CSC detected ranged from 6% to 19%. This method of CSC detection was cross-validated with other commonly used surface markers with good correlation. Matrigel invasion assays confirmed that CSC isolated using this method are both highly motile and invasive. This approach simplifies the process of identifying viable CSC from fresh tumor tissue, providing a level of accuracy not previously available. This method may also provide a valuable tool for screening and validating new CSC biomarkers.
癌症干细胞（CSC）是肿瘤内一个独特的亚群，已被证明可驱动肿瘤进展、转移和复发。对文献的回顾显示，在使用多种表面标志物和功能测定法来鉴定和分离癌症干细胞方面，共识较差。利用一种能够进行活细胞mRNA定量的新技术，我们已经证明有能力基于与多能细胞干性相关的标志物来鉴定和分选有活力的CSC。通过流式细胞术检测了来自多种癌症类型的新鲜肿瘤样本中的Nanog表达。检测到的CSC水平在6%至19%之间。这种CSC检测方法与其他常用表面标志物进行了交叉验证，相关性良好。基质胶侵袭试验证实，使用这种方法分离的CSC具有高度的运动性和侵袭性。这种方法简化了从新鲜肿瘤组织中鉴定有活力的CSC的过程，提供了前所未有的准确性。这种方法还可能为筛选和验证新的CSC生物标志物提供有价值的工具。
