Isolation of Stem Cells from Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing number of malignancies and are functionally defined by their ability to undergo self-renewal and produce differentiated progeny¹. These properties allow CSCs to recapitulate the original tumor when injected into immunocompromised mice. CSCs within an epithelial malignancy were first described in breast cancer and found to display specific cell surface antigen expression (CD44⁺CD24^low/-)². Since then, CSCs have been identified in an increasing number of other human malignancies using CD44 and CD24 as well as a number of other surface antigens. Physiologic properties, including aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, have also been used to isolate CSCs from malignant tissues^3-5.Recently, we and others identified CSCs from pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on ALDH activity and the expression of the cell surface antigens CD44 and CD24, and CD133^6-8. These highly tumorigenic populations may or may not be overlapping and display other functions. We found that ALDH⁺ and CD44⁺CD24⁺ pancreatic CSCs are similarly tumorigenic, but ALDH⁺ cells are relatively more invasive⁸. In this protocol we describe a method to isolate viable pancreatic CSCs from low-passage human xenografts⁹. Xenografted tumors are harvested from mice and made into a single-cell suspension. Tissue debris and dead cells are separated from live cells and then stained using antibodies against CD44 and CD24 and using the ALDEFLUOR reagent, a fluorescent substrate of ALDH¹⁰. CSCs are then isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Isolated CSCs can then be used for analytical or functional assays requiring viable cells.     

The Metastatic Potential and Chemoresistance of Human Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) typically have the capacity to evade chemotherapy and may be the principal source of metastases. CSCs for human pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) have been identified, but neither the metastatic potential nor the chemoresistance of these cells has been adequately evaluated. We have addressed these issues by examining side-population (SP) cells isolated from the Panc-1 and BxPC3 lines of human PDAC cells, the oncogenotypes of which differ. SP cells could be isolated from monolayers of Panc-1, but only from spheroids of BxPC3. Using orthotopic xenografts into the severely immunocompromised NSG mouse, we found that SP cells isolated from both cell lines produced tumors that were highly metastatic, in contrast to previous experience with PDAC cell lines. SP cells derived from both cell lines expressed the ABCG2 transporter, which was demonstrably responsible for the SP phenotype. SP cells gave rise to non-SP (NSP) cells in vitro and in vivo, a transition that was apparently due to posttranslational inhibition of the ABCG2 transporter. Twenty-two other lines of PDAC cells also expressed ABCG2. The sensitivity of PDAC SP cells to the vinca alkaloid vincristine could be greatly increased by verapamil, a general inhibitor of transporters. In contrast, verapamil had no effect on the killing of PDAC cells by gemcitabine, the current first-line therapeutic for PDAC. We conclude that the isolation of SP cells can be a convenient and effective tool for the study of PDAC CSCs; that CSCs may be the principal progenitors of metastasis by human PDAC; that the ABCG2 transporter is responsible for the SP phenotype in human PDAC cells, and may be a ubiquitous source of drug-resistance in PDAC, but does not confer resistance to gemcitabine; and that inhibition of ABCG2 might offer a useful adjunct in a therapeutic attack on the CSCs of PDAC.     

Antidiabetic Drug Metformin Prevents Progression of Pancreatic Cancer by Targeting in Part Cancer Stem Cells and mTOR Signaling

Epidemiologic studies have shown that diabetes mellitus is associated positively with increased risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and recent meta-analysis studies showed that metformin, reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer (PC). We tested the effects of metformin on pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and their progression to PDAC in p48Cre/+.LSL-KrasG12D/+ transgenic mice. Mice fed control diet showed 80% and 62% incidence of PDAC in males and females, respectively. Male mice showed 20% and 26%, and female mice showed 7% and 0% PDAC incidence with 1000- and 2000-ppm metformin treatments, respectively. Both doses of metformin decreased pancreatic tumor weights by 34% to 49% (P < 0.03–0.001). The drug treatment caused suppression of PanIN 3 (carcinoma in situ) lesions by 28% to 39% (P < .002) and significant inhibition of carcinoma spread in the pancreas. The pancreatic tissue and/or serum of mice fed metformin showed a significant inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pErk), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) with an increase in phosphorylated 5′ adenosine monophosphate kinase (pAMPK), tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1, TSC2), C-protein and an autophagy related protein 2 (ATG2). The cancer stem cell (CSC) markers were significantly decreased (P < 0.04–0.0002) in the pancreatic tissue. These results suggest that biologic effects of metformin are mediated through decreased CSC markers cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44 and CD133), aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1), and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM) and modulation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Our preclinical data indicate that metformin has significant potential for use in clinical trials for PC chemoprevention.     

西达本胺诱导胰腺癌细胞凋亡

目的：观察西达本胺对胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3和PANC-1生长抑制及诱导细胞凋亡作用,探讨西达本胺抗胰腺癌的机制。方法：西达本胺处理BxPC-3和PANC-1细胞后,用流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡率,用罗丹明123和DCFH—DA染色方法测定细胞线粒体膜跨膜电位变化和活性氧（ROS）的产生,用Western印迹检测Bcl-2家族和γH2AX蛋白表达的变化。结果：西达本胺对胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3和PANC-1具有生长抑制和诱导细胞凋亡的作用,且呈时间和剂量依赖关系;处理72h后,胰腺癌细胞内ROS产生增强导致DNA损伤发生,且线粒体跨膜电位明显下降;促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,抑制抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2和Mcl—1的表达。结论：西达本胺具有抑制胰腺癌细胞增殖,诱导细胞凋亡的作用;西达本胺增强胰腺癌细胞内ROS的产生并导致DNA损伤,最终诱导细胞凋亡的发生。     

雷公藤甲素诱导胰腺癌细胞凋亡

目的：观察雷公藤甲素对胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3和PANC-1生长抑制及诱导细胞凋亡作用,探讨雷公藤甲素抗胰腺癌的机制。方法：雷公藤甲素处理BxPC-3和PANC—1细胞后,用M1rr法检测细胞的生长抑制,用流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡率,用罗丹明123和DCFH—DA染色方法测定细胞线粒体膜跨膜电位变化和活性氧（ROS）的产生,用Western印迹检测Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达的变化。结果：雷公藤甲素对胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3和PANC—1具有生长抑制和诱导细胞凋亡的作用,且呈时间和剂量依赖关系;处理72h后,胰腺癌细胞线粒体跨膜电位明显下降,Bax表达上调,Bcl-2表达下降。结论：雷公藤甲素能有效抑制胰腺癌细胞增殖,通过增强线粒体通透性诱导细胞凋亡。     

Multimodal Treatment Eliminates Cancer Stem Cells and Leads to Long-Term Survival in Primary Human Pancreatic Cancer Tissue Xenografts

Purpose

In spite of intense research efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains one of the most deadly malignancies in the world. We and others have previously identified a subpopulation of pancreatic cancer stem cells within the tumor as a critical therapeutic target and additionally shown that the tumor stroma represents not only a restrictive barrier for successful drug delivery, but also serves as a paracrine niche for cancer stem cells. Therefore, we embarked on a large-scale investigation on the effects of combining chemotherapy, hedgehog pathway inhibition, and mTOR inhibition in a preclinical mouse model of pancreatic cancer.

Experimental Design

Prospective and randomized testing in a set of almost 200 subcutaneous and orthotopic implanted whole-tissue primary human tumor xenografts.

Results

The combined targeting of highly chemoresistant cancer stem cells as well as their more differentiated progenies, together with abrogation of the tumor microenvironment by targeting the stroma and enhancing tissue penetration of the chemotherapeutic agent translated into significantly prolonged survival in preclinical models of human pancreatic cancer. Most pronounced therapeutic effects were observed in gemcitabine-resistant patient-derived tumors. Intriguingly, the proposed triple therapy approach could be further enhanced by using a PEGylated formulation of gemcitabine, which significantly increased its bioavailability and tissue penetration, resulting in a further improved overall outcome.

Conclusions

This multimodal therapeutic strategy should be further explored in the clinical setting as its success may eventually improve the poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.     

Dominant Expression of DCLK1 in Human Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells Accelerates Tumor Invasion and Metastasis

Patients with pancreatic cancer typically develop tumor invasion and metastasis in the early stage. These malignant behaviors might be originated from cancer stem cells (CSCs), but the responsible target is less known about invisible CSCs especially for invasion and metastasis. We previously examined the proteasome activity of CSCs and constructed a real-time visualization system for human pancreatic CSCs. In the present study, we found that CSCs were highly metastatic and dominantly localized at the invading tumor margins in a liver metastasis model. Microarray and siRNA screening assays showed that doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) was predominantly expressed with histone modification in pancreatic CSCs with invasive and metastatic potential. Overexpression of DCLK1 led to amoeboid morphology, which promotes the migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Knockdown of DCLK1 profoundly suppressed in vivo liver metastasis of pancreatic CSCs. Clinically, DCLK1 was overexpressed in the metastatic tumors in patients with pancreatic cancer. Our studies revealed that DCLK1 is essential for the invasive and metastatic properties of CSCs and may be a promising epigenetic and therapeutic target in human pancreatic cancer.     

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples

The cancer stem cell (CSC) model has been considerably revisited over the last two decades. During this time CSCs have been identified and directly isolated from human tissues and serially propagated in immunodeficient mice, typically through antibody labeling of subpopulations of cells and fractionation by flow cytometry. However, the unique clinical features of prostate cancer have considerably limited the study of prostate CSCs from fresh human tumor samples. We recently reported the isolation of prostate CSCs directly from human tissues by virtue of their HLA class I (HLAI)-negative phenotype. Prostate cancer cells are harvested from surgical specimens and mechanically dissociated. A cell suspension is generated and labeled with fluorescently conjugated HLAI and stromal antibodies. Subpopulations of HLAI-negative cells are finally isolated using a flow cytometer. The principal limitation of this protocol is the frequently microscopic and multifocal nature of primary cancer in prostatectomy specimens. Nonetheless, isolated live prostate CSCs are suitable for molecular characterization and functional validation by transplantation in immunodeficient mice.     

p53 Mutants: the Achilles’ Heel of Human Cancers?

Recent scientific discoveries have thrust mutants of the tumor suppressor protein p53 into the forefront of the war on cancer, and hold out eventual hope for a small molecule drug that will be useful in treating human cancers with mutant p53 protein.     

胰腺干细胞研究进展

胰岛细胞移植是目前治疗Ⅰ型糖尿病的最佳方法,但是胰岛细胞的匮乏阻碍了这种方法的广泛应用,寻找胰岛细胞新来源已成为全球糖尿病研究的热点之一。成体组织干细胞所具有的独特优势使胰腺干细胞成为近年来研究的热点。现对胰腺干细胞的研究概况进行综述。     

MUC1 Selectively Targets Human Pancreatic Cancer in Orthotopic Nude Mouse Models

The goal of this study was to determine whether MUC1 antibody conjugated with a fluorophore could be used to visualize pancreatic cancer. Anti-MUC1 (CT2) antibody was conjugated with 550 nm or 650 nm fluorophores. Nude mouse were used to make subcutaneous and orthotopic models of pancreatic cancer. Western blot and flow cytometric analysis confirmed the expression of MUC1 in human pancreatic cancer cell lines including BxPC-3 and Panc-1. Immunocytochemistry with fluorophore conjugated anti-MUC1 antibody demonstrated fluorescent areas on the membrane of Panc-1 cancer cells. After injecting the conjugated anti-MUC1 antibodies via the tail vein, subcutaneously transplanted Panc-1 and BxPC-3 tumors emitted strong fluorescent signals. In the subcutaneous tumor models, the fluorescent signal from the conjugated anti-MUC1 antibody was noted around the margin of the tumor and space between the cells. The conjugated anti-MUC1 antibody bound the tumor in orthotopically-transplanted Panc-1 and BxPC-3 models enabling the tumors to be imaged. This study showed that fluorophore conjugated anti-MUC1 antibodies could visualize pancreatic tumors in vitro and in vivo and may help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Metabolic Phenotypes in Pancreatic Cancer

IntroductionThe aim of present study was to profile the glucose-dependent and glutamine- dependent metabolism in pancreatic cancer.MethodsWe performed Immunohistochemical staining of GLUT1, CAIX, BNIP3, p62, LC3, GLUD1, and GOT1. Based on the expression of metabolism-related proteins, the metabolic phenotypes of tumors were classified into two categories, including glucose- and glutamine-dependent metabolism. There were Warburg type, reverse Warburg type, mixed type, and null type in glucose-dependent metabolism, and canonical type, non-canonical type, mixed type, null type in glutamine-dependent metabolism.ResultsLonger overall survival was associated with high expression of BNIP3 in tumor (p = 0.010). Shorter overall survival was associated with high expression of GLUT1 in tumor (P = 0.002) and GOT1 in tumor (p = 0.030). Warburg type of glucose-dependent metabolism had a highest percentage of tumors with nerve infiltration (P = 0.0003), UICC stage (P = 0.0004), and activated autophagic status in tumor (P = 0.0167). Mixed type of glucose-dependent metabolism comprised the highest percentage of tumors with positive marginal status (P<0.0001), lymphatic invasion (P<0.0001), and activated autophagic status in stroma (P = 0.0002). Mixed type and Warburg type had a significant association with shorter overall survival (P = 0.018). Non-canonical type and mixed type of glutamine-dependent metabolism comprised the highest percentage of tumors with vascular invasion (p = 0.0073), highest percentage of activated autophagy in tumors (P = 0.0034). Moreover, these two types of glutamine-dependent metabolism were significantly associated with shorter overall survival (P<0.001). Further analysis suggested that most of tumors were dependent on both glucose- and glutamine-dependent metabolism. After dividing the tumors according to the number of metabolism, we found that the increasing numbers of metabolism subtypes inversely associated with survival outcome.ConclusionWarburg type, non-canonical type and mixed types of glucose- and glutamine-dependent metabolism comprised of more metabolically active, biologically aggressive and poor prognostic tumors. Moreover, the increasing subtypes and categories of the metabolism in each tumor significantly associated with poor prognosis.     

Functional Genomics In Vivo Reveal Metabolic Dependencies of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

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肿瘤干细胞及肝癌肿瘤干细胞

肿瘤干细胞理论认为只有存在于肿瘤中的少量干细胞性质的细胞群体对肿瘤发生和发展起着决定作用,肿瘤是由干细胞突变积累而形成的无限增殖的异常组织,这一理论的提出使人们对肿瘤发生机制的认识上升到了一个新的高度,也引起了研究者的广泛关注;肝癌是我国常见的恶性肿瘤之一,我国肝癌死亡率居世界之首,目前对肝癌的研究是我国恶性肿瘤防治的重点工作,现对当前肿瘤干细胞与肝癌肿瘤干细胞相关方面的最新研究进展作一概述。     

人胰腺癌细胞再增殖体外模型的建立

目的:细胞再增殖是导致胰腺癌放化疗失败的主要原因之一,但缺乏合适的用于研究胰腺癌再增殖的细胞模型。本研究拟建立简便、实用的胰腺癌细胞再增殖体外模型。方法:表达绿色荧光蛋白-荧光素酶(GFP-Luc)的慢病毒感染人胰腺癌细胞,经嘌呤霉素筛选,用荧光显微镜和流式细胞仪观察双标记细胞GFP表达情况,用生物成像检测双标记细胞Luc活性及分析细胞数量与Luc活性之间的关系。以X-线照射胰腺癌细胞制备饲养细胞,以相应的双标记肿瘤细胞为报告细胞进行共培养。对共培养细胞进行荧光显微镜观察和生物成像,以判断饲养细胞对报告细胞的生长促进作用。结果:通过表达GFP-Luc的慢病毒感染获得双标记人胰腺癌细胞,经荧光显微术、流式细胞术和生物成像术证实这些双标记的人胰腺癌细胞能有效地表达GFP和Luc活性,可作为报告细胞用于建立人胰腺癌再增殖细胞模型。将经X-线照射的饲养细胞和相应的报告细胞共培养,经荧光显微镜观察和生物成像分析,结果显示X-线照射过的饲养细胞对报告细胞的生长具有显著的促进作用。结论:成功建立了简便、实用的人胰腺癌再增殖体外模型,该模型能很好地模拟人体内胰腺癌细胞再增殖过程,为进一步研究胰腺癌细胞再增殖的分子机制提供了新的技术手段。