Cancer stem cell surface markers on normal stem cells

Abstract

The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has captured the attention of many scientists. It is believed that elimination of CSCs could possibly eradicate the whole cancer. CSC surface markers provide molecular targeted therapies for various cancers, using therapeutic antibodies specific for the CSC surface markers. Various CSC surface markers have been identified and published. Interestingly, most of the markers used to identify CSCs are derived from surface markers present on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or adult stem cells. In this review, we classify the currently known 40 CSC surface markers into 3 different categories, in terms of their expression in hESCs, adult stem cells, and normal tissue cells. Approximately 73% of current CSC surface markers appear to be present on embryonic or adult stem cells, and they are rarely expressed on normal tissue cells. The remaining CSC surface markers are considerably expressed even in normal tissue cells, and some of them have been extensively validated as CSC surface markers by various research groups. We discuss the significance of the categorized CSC surface markers, and provide insight into why surface markers on hESCs are an attractive source to find novel surface markers on CSCs.

Quantitative characterization of the regulation of iron metabolism in glioblastoma stem‐like cells using magnetophoresis

“…However, surface epitopes have also created great controversy in the CSC field as some groups have demonstrated tumor initiation for both marker positive and negative populations as well as heterogeneity of marker expression based on microenvironmental factors (Beier et al, ; Shmelkov et al, ). Another issue with cell surface markers is that for every marker identified to date, their expression can also be seen in normal adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, or normal tissue (Kim & Ryu, ). The presence of surface epitopes can also be inconsistent due to cell cycle‐dependent expression as well as receptor recycling (Jaksch, Munera, Bajpai, Terskikh, & Oshima, ).…”

Cancer stem cells, stemness markers and selected drug targeting: metastatic colorectal cancer and cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 connection to WNT as a model system

“…Thus, CSCs possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells, specifically mulitpotency in the ability to give rise to all cell types found upon pathological examination of an excised tumor [11] . The most commonly used method for identifying and isolating CSCs is via their characteristic cell surface markers, many of which were originally discovered from studies of normal tissue development, including from hematopoiesis and embryonic stem cells and which are also found co-expressed on CSCs [9] .…”

“…It is only when the CSCs differentiate that they will express greater sets of uniquely characteristic markers for the particular cell lineages that they encompass [11] . It is in this light that the markers for the CR-CSCs are discussed below, and are discussed in reference to related findings of similar markers found expressed on the ESCs and CSCs alike across a range of different cancer types [9,10,12] .…”

“…One of the key aspects of CSCs that should be borne in mind is their property of "stemness" and by this is meant not only their capability of self-renewal and differentiation, but also that despite being sourced from different tissue origins, the various types of CSCs with their less differentiated phenotypes, will share properties and markers in common with embryonic stem cells (ESCs), reflecting their similarity in terms of earlier stages of development [9,10] . It is only when the CSCs differentiate that they will express greater sets of uniquely characteristic markers for the particular cell lineages that they encompass [11] .…”

Alterations of The Stem-Like Properties in The Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-231 Induced by Single Pulsed Doxorubicin Treatment

“…ITGA6 and ITGB1 are genes of the integrin family, and elevated expression of both genes has been associated with the cSLC phenotype, tissue invasion and capability for metastasis (Brooks et al, 2016;Kim and Ryu, 2017). Vassilopoulos et al (2013) showed in vivo the tumour initiation properties of ITGA6+/ITGB1+/CD24+ cell populations.…”