Journal of Cell Science & Therapy
Open Access

Identifi cation of novel surface membrane phenotypes of cancer stem cells in epithelial cancers

International Conference & Exhibition on Cell Science & Stem Cell Research

29 Nov - 1 Dec 2011 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, USA

Luigi Del Vecchio, Felicia Leccia, Marica Gemei and Francesco Salvatore

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cell Sci Ther

Abstract :

Many human cancers fulfi ll a model in which only a fraction of cells drives tumor formation and growth. Th ese cells are termed ?cancer stem cells? (CSCs) and can propagate the tumor upon transplantation in immune-comprised mice. Colon and breast cancers are among the best- established models to fulfi ll the CSC theory. We used fl ow cytometry to analyze the expression of a vocabulary of surface molecules on breast and colon cancer cells from continuous cell lines and fresh tissues. We identifi ed putative CSC subpopulations that were subsequently isolated by cell sorting and extensively studied through in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. Th e classical phenotype of breast CSCs is CD44 + /CD24 low . We identifi ed CSCs with the CD44 + / CD24 hi phenotype, within a model of basal-like breast cancer that seems to be derived from a mammary epithelium luminal progenitor cell. We found that CD24 hi cells were able to form mammospheres with higher effi ciency than CD24 low cells and injection of NOD/SCID mice with CD24 hi led to the formation of tumors strongly expressing stem/progenitor markers. In human colon, CSC phenotype was previously described as characterized by CD133 or CD44 positivity. Interestingly, from our characterization emerged the presence of a small (0.6%) population of CD133 + /CD44 + cells simultaneously expressing other distinctive surface markers. Th is population may represent the ?true? CSC in colon cancers. We observed a reduced disease- free survival in patients with higher percentages of CD133 + CD44 + cells. Th ese data suggest that this cell population could function as the root of the tumor, promoting relapses aft er resection of the primary tumor. Supported by AIRC grant (Italy) and Regione Campania

Biography :

Dr. Del Vecchio received an MD from Federico II University of Naples in 1979. He was Head of Laboratory of Cellular Immunology at the Division of Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples (1994-2005), Associate Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology at Federico II University of Naples (2005 to present), Head of Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Cytometry at CEINGE ? Biotecnologie Avanzate Institute, Naples (2005 to present). He has published 110 research papers on peer- reviewed journals in the fi eld of phenotypic complexity of onco-hematological diseases