A CD90+ tumor-initiating cell population with an aggressive signature and metastatic capacity in esophageal cancer
Menée sur des lignées cellulaires et des échantillons tumoraux prélevés sur des patients atteints d'un carcinome épidermoïde de l'œsophage, cette étude identifie des cellules initiatrices de tumeurs caractérisées par la surexpression de CD90 et dotées d'un fort pouvoir métastatique
Tumor-initiating cells (TICs), also known as cancer stem cells, are regarded widely as a specific subpopulation of cells needed for cancer initiation and progression. TICs have yet to be identified in esophageal tumors that have a rising incidence in developed countries. Here we report a CD90+ cell population found in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) which is endowed with stem cell-like properties and high tumorigenic and metastatic potential. mRNA profiling of these cells suggested pathways through which they drive tumor growth and metastasis, with deregulation of an Ets1-MMP signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition figuring prominently. These cells possessed higher self-renewal activity and were sufficient for tumor growth, differentiation, metastasis and chemotherapeutic resistance. CD90+ TICs were isolated and characterized from ESCC clinical specimens as well as ESCC cell lines. In freshly resected clinical specimens, they represented a rare cell population the levels of which correlated with strong family histories and lymph node metastasis. Our results prompt further study of this CD90+ population of esophageal TICs as potential therapeutic targets.