The sialyl-glycolipid stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 marks a subpopulation of chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer cells with mesenchymal features

Conclusions:
In this study, we identified SSEA4 as highly expressed in a subpopulation of tumor cells resistant to multiple commonly used chemotherapy drugs, as well as ST3GAL2, the rate-limiting enzyme of SSEA4 synthesis, as a predictive marker of poor outcome for breast and ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Both biomarkers and additionally identified regulatory miRNAs may be used to further understand chemoresistance, to stratify patient groups in order to avoid ineffective and painful therapies, and to develop alternative treatment regimens for breast cancer patients.

Source: Breast Cancer Research - November 25, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Andrea AloiaEvgeniya PetrovaStefan TomiukUte BisselsOlivier DéasMassimo SainiFranziska ZickgrafSteve WagnerSaskia SpaichMarc SütterlinAndreas SchneeweissManuel ReitbergerSilvia RübergBernhard GerstmayerDavid AgorkuSebastian KnöbelAnnalisa TerranegraMo Source Type: research