Immune responses to human cancer stem-like cells/cancer-initiating cells.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Hirohashi Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4724814 | biostudies-other | 2016 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:Our bodies are equipped with powerful immune surveillance to clear cancerous cells as they emerge. How tumor-initiating stem cells (tSCs) that form and propagate cancers equip themselves to overcome this barrier remains poorly understood. To tackle this problem, we designed a skin cancer model for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that can be effectively challenged by adoptive cytotoxic T cell transfer (ACT)-based immunotherapy. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and lineage tracing, we found that transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-responding tSCs are superior at resisting ACT and form the root of tumor relapse. Probing mechanism, we discovered that during malignancy, tSCs selectively acquire CD80, a surface ligand previously identified on immune cells. Moreover, upon engaging cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4), CD80-expressing tSCs directly dampen cytotoxic T cell activity. Conversely, upon CTLA4- or TGF-β-blocking immunotherapies or Cd80 ablation, tSCs become vulnerable, diminishing tumor relapse after ACT treatment. Our findings place tSCs at the crux of how immune checkpoint pathways are activated.
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Project description:Recent evidence has unveiled the critical role of tumor cells with stem cell activities in tumorigenicity and drug resistance, but how tumor microenvironments regulate cancer stem/initiating cells (CSCs) remains unknown. We clarified the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their downstream factor milk-fat globule-epidermal growth factor-VIII (MFG-E8) in the regulation of CSC activities. Bone marrow chimeric systems and adoptive cell transfers elucidated the importance of MFG-E8 from TAMs in conferring to CSCs with the ability to promote tumorigenicity and anticancer drug resistance. MFG-E8 mainly activates signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) and Sonic Hedgehog pathways in CSCs and further amplifies their anticancer drug resistance in cooperation with IL-6. Thus, the pharmacological targeting of key factors derived from tumor-associated inflammation provides a unique strategy to eradicate therapy-resistant tumors by manipulating CSC activities.
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Project description:BackgroundThe biological phenomenon of cell fusion has been associated with cancer progression since it was determined that normal cell × tumor cell fusion-derived hybrid cells could exhibit novel properties, such as enhanced metastatogenic capacity or increased drug resistance, and even as a mechanism that could give rise to cancer stem/initiating cells (CS/ICs). CS/ICs have been proposed as cancer cells that exhibit stem cell properties, including the ability to (re)initiate tumor growth.MethodsFive M13HS hybrid clone cells, which originated from spontaneous cell fusion events between M13SV1-EGFP-Neo human breast epithelial cells and HS578T-Hyg human breast cancer cells, and their parental cells were analyzed for expression of stemness and EMT-related marker proteins by Western blot analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The frequency of ALDH1-positive cells was determined by flow cytometry using AldeRed fluorescent dye. Concurrently, the cells' colony forming capabilities as well as the cells' abilities to form mammospheres were investigated. The migratory activity of the cells was analyzed using a 3D collagen matrix migration assay.ResultsM13HS hybrid clone cells co-expressed SOX9, SLUG, CK8 and CK14, which were differently expressed in parental cells. A variation in the ALDH1-positive putative stem cell population was observed among the five hybrids ranging from 1.44% (M13HS-7) to 13.68% (M13HS-2). In comparison to the parental cells, all five hybrid clone cells possessed increased but also unique colony formation and mammosphere formation capabilities. M13HS-4 hybrid clone cells exhibited the highest colony formation capacity and second highest mammosphere formation capacity of all hybrids, whereby the mean diameter of the mammospheres was comparable to the parental cells. In contrast, the largest mammospheres originated from the M13HS-2 hybrid clone cells, whereas these cells' mammosphere formation capacity was comparable to the parental breast cancer cells. All M13HS hybrid clones exhibited a mesenchymal phenotype and, with the exception of one hybrid clone, responded to EGF with an increased migratory activity.ConclusionFusion of human breast epithelial cells and human breast cancer cells can give rise to hybrid clone cells that possess certain CS/IC properties, suggesting that cell fusion might be a mechanism underlying how tumor cells exhibiting a CS/IC phenotype could originate.
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Project description:Recent development of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMs) for pancreatic cancer (PC) that recapitulates human disease progression has helped to identify new strategies to delay/inhibit PC development. We first found that expression of the pancreatic tumor-initiating/cancer stem cells (CSC) marker DclK1 occurs in early stage PC and in both early and late pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and that it increases as disease progresses in GEM and also in human PC. Genome-wide next generation sequencing of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) from GEM mice revealed significantly increased DclK1 along with inflammatory genes. Genetic ablation of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) decreased DclK1 in GEM. Induction of inflammation/pancreatitis with cerulein in GEM mice increased DclK1, and the novel dual COX/5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitor licofelone reduced it. Dietary licofelone significantly inhibited the incidence of PDAC and carcinoma in situ with significant inhibition of pancreatic CSCs. Licofelone suppressed pancreatic tumor COX-2 and 5-LOX activities and modulated miRNAs characteristic of CSC and inflammation in correlation with PDAC inhibition. These results offer a preclinical proof of concept to target the inflammation initiation to inhibit cancer stem cells early for improving the treatment of pancreatic cancers, with immediate clinical implications for repositioning dual COX/5-LOX inhibitors in human trials for high risk patients.
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Project description:BACKGROUND: Several human cancers have been found to contain cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) having cancer-initiating ability. However, only a few reports have shown the existence of CSCs in bone and soft tissue sarcomas. In this study, we identified and characterised side population (SP) cells that showed drug-resistant features in human bone sarcoma cell lines. METHODS: In seven osteosarcoma cell lines (OS2000, KIKU, NY, Huo9, HOS, U2OS and Saos2) and in one bone malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) cell line (MFH2003), the frequency of SP cells was analysed. Tumourigenicity of SP cells was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Gene profiles of SP cells and other populations (main population; MP) of cells were characterised using cDNA microarrays. RESULTS: SP cells were found in NY (0.31%) and MFH2003 (5.28%). SP cells of MFH2003 formed spherical colonies and re-populated into SP and MP cells. In an NOD/SCID mice xenograft model, 1 x 10(3) sorted SP cell-induced tumourigenesis. cDNA microarray analysis showed that 23 genes were upregulated in SP cells. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that SP cells existed in bone sarcoma cell lines. SP cells of MFH2003 had cancer-initiating ability in vitro and in vivo. The gene profiles of SP cells could serve as candidate markers for CSCs in bone sarcomas.
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Project description:BackgroundHuman immune system (HIS)-engrafted mice are new tools to investigate human immune responses. Here, we used HIS mice to study human immune responses against human HER-2-positive cancer cells and their ability to control tumour growth and metastasis.MethodsBALB/c Rag2(-/-), Il2rg(-/-) mice were engrafted with CD34(+) or CD133(+) human cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and vaccinated with human HER-2-positive cancer cells SK-OV-3 combined to human IL-12.ResultsBoth CD34(+) or CD133(+) human HSC gave long-term engraftment and differentiation, both in peripheral blood and in lymphoid organs, and production of human antibodies. Vaccinated mice produced specific anti-HER-2 human IgG. An s.c. SK-OV-3 challenge was significantly inhibited (but not abolished) in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated HIS mice. Tumours were heavily infiltrated with human and murine cells, mice showed NK cells and production of human interferon-γ, that could contribute to tumour growth inhibition. Vaccinated HIS mice showed significantly inhibited lung metastases when compared with non-vaccinated HIS mice and to non-HIS mice, along with higher levels of tumour-infiltrating human dendritic cells.ConclusionAnti-HER-2 responses were elicited through an adjuvanted allogeneic cancer cell vaccine in HIS mice. Human immune responses elicited in HIS mice effectively inhibited lung metastases.
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| S-EPMC4457942 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Growing evidence indicates that tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are responsible for tumor growth and progression. Conventional chemotherapeutics do not sufficiently eliminate TICs, leading to tumor relapse. We aimed to gain insight into TIC biology by comparing the transcriptome of primary TIC cultures and their normal stem cell counterparts to uncover expression differences.MethodsWe established colonosphere cultures derived from the resection of paired specimens of primary tumor and normal mucosa in patients with CRC. These colonospheres, enriched for TICs, were used for differential transcriptome analyses to detect new targets for a TIC-directed therapy. Effects of target inhibition on CRC cells were studied in vitro and in vivo.ResultsPathway analysis of the regulated genes showed enrichment of genes central to PI3K/AKT and Wnt-signaling. We identified CD133 as a marker for a more aggressive CRC subpopulation enriched with TICs in SW480 CRC cells in an in vivo cancer model. Treatment of CRC cells with the selective AKT inhibitor MK-2206 caused a decrease in cell proliferation, particularly in the TIC fraction, resulting in a significant reduction of the stemness capacity to form colonospheres in vitro and to initiate tumor formation in vivo. Consequently, MK-2206 treatment of mice with established xenograft tumors exhibited a significant deceleration of tumor progression. Primary patient-derived tumorsphere growth was significantly inhibited by MK-2206.ConclusionThis study reveals that AKT signaling is critical for TIC proliferation and can be efficiently targeted by MK-2206 representing a preclinical therapeutic strategy to repress colorectal TICs.
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