Hypoxia-induced stem-like cancer cells resistance to VEGFR inhibition
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Developing strategies to overcome the frequent resistance to VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors in patients is a major challenge in antiangiogenic therapy for cancer. Targeting the VEGF pathway in vivo induces hypoxia and therefore enables to study drug-induced hypoxia in tumors. Hypoxia also occurs in the spontaneous evolution of cancers, particularly around areas of necrosis. Using cell markers such as CD133, CXCR4, or ALDH1, we identified stem-like cells in peri-necrotic areas in human biopsies and xenografts models of renal cancers. These stem-like cells were able in vitro to self-renew, form carcinoma spheres and had a tumorigenic potency, thus showing characteristics of stem-like cancer cells. In xenografted human renal cell carcinoma, we further demonstrated a strong link between necrosis, either spontaneous or treatment-induced, and the presence of CD133/CXCR4 double positive stem-like cells. Hypoxia increased their tumorigenic potency, induced overexpression of metallothionein2A, which we here identified as critical regulator of resistance to VEGFR-inhibition.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE32414 | GEO | 2014/12/31
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA146383
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA