Cancer Stemness Contributes to Cluster Formation of Colon Cancer Cells and High Metastatic Potentials.

In this study, we investigated if cancer stemness would contribute to cluster formation. We used a tumour sphere culture method to enrich cancer stem cells (CSCs) from colon cancer cells and found that during the 2nd generation of sphere culture, clusters (between 3 to 5 cells) formed clusters within the first 24 h while the rest remained as single cells. The clusters were analysed for stemness and metastatic potential, including gene expressions for cancer stemness (CD133 and Lgr5), epithelial mesenchymal transition (E-cadherin and TGF-β 1-3), and hypoxia induced factors (HIF-1α and HIF-2α). The results showed that the clusters expressed higher levels of these genes and colon CSC surface markers (including CD24, CD44, and CD133) than the single cells. Among these markers, CD24 seemed the major contributor linking the cells into clusters. These clusters also showed a stronger ability to both form colonies and migrate. Our data collectively suggests that colon cancer stemness contributes to cluster formation, and that clustered cells exhibit a great metastatic potential. Our study thus provides a method to study the CTC clusters and derive insight into oncogenesis and metastasis. PMID: 31883392 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol Source Type: research