Inhibition of CD133 resulted in cell death, inhibition of angiogenesis, and limited migration in the melanoma cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND

Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, develops as a result of melanocytes growing malignantly. The global incidence of melanoma is on the rise, posing significant public health challenges. Consequently, it holds the highest fatality rate among skin cancers and accounts for the majority of deaths. Accurately classifying the stages of this cancer is a crucial yet arduous task, particularly during patient diagnosis. Cancer stem cells, which are a type of tumor-initiating cell, have been extensively researched for their rapid proliferation, migration, and contribution to cancer recurrence. These cells, characterized by specific markers such as CD133, possess a significantly heightened ability to initiate cancer, making them crucial in developing therapeutic strategies. The current study intended to determine the CD133 siRNA impact on angiogenesis, apoptosis, migration, proliferation, and stemness characteristics in melanoma cancer in the SK-MEL3 cell line.

METHODS AND RESULTS

For this purpose, the wound healing test was used to evaluate the cells' migratory potential, and the results indicated a decrease in the migration rate. Colony formation assays were also done to measure the stemness properties, which showed decreased stemness features in SK-MEL3 cells. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR and western blot assays demonstrated that the CD133 silencing reduced its expression and gene expression in migration and stemness. Finally, co-culturing HUVEC cells with SK-MEL3 cells, which suppressed CD133 expression, decreased the expression of angiogenic genes.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the therapeutic potential of CD133-siRNA in tumor treatment, warranting further investigation in future animal and clinical trials.