Work

Tumour-initiating stem-like cells in human prostate cancer exhibit increased NF-κB signalling

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Androgen depletion is a key strategy for treating human prostate cancer, but the presence of hormone-independent cells escaping treatment remains a major therapeutic challenge. Here, we identify a minor subset of stem-like human prostate tumour-initiating cells (TICs) that do not express prostate cancer markers, such as androgen receptor or prostate specific antigen. These TICs possess stem cell characteristics and multipotency as demonstrated by in vitro sphere-formation and in vivo tumour-initiation, respectively. The cells represent an undifferentiated subtype of basal cells and can be purified from prostate tumours based on coexpression of the human pluripotent stem cell marker TRA-1-60 with CD151 and CD166. Such triple-marker-positive TICs recapitulate the original parent tumour heterogeneity in serial xeno-transplantations indicating a tumour cell hierarchy in human prostate cancer development. These TICs exhibit increased nuclear factor-κB activity. These findings are important in understanding the molecular basis of human prostate cancer. Tumours consist of heterogeneous cell types that respond differently to treatment. Here, on the basis of the expression of three different proteins, the authors describe a subset of prostate cancer cells that have stem cell-like properties that are able to initiate tumour formationin vivo.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1159

Authors: Vinagolu K. Rajasekhar, Lorenz Studer, William Gerald, Nicholas D. Socci, Howard I. Scher

Institutions: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers

Language: English

Topic: Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $6,990