We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Biomarker Found for Epithelial Cancer Stem Cells

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Oct 2014
Print article
Image: Near-ultra violet induced autofluorescence shows significant differences between tumoral and healthy tissue (Photo courtesy of Dr. Geneviève Bourg-Heckly).
Image: Near-ultra violet induced autofluorescence shows significant differences between tumoral and healthy tissue (Photo courtesy of Dr. Geneviève Bourg-Heckly).
Tumors are mosaics of cells that are morphologically and molecularly very different and over the past years have been suggested to be responsible for the origin of cancer and for the resistance to conventional chemical therapies.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to drive tumor growth, metastasis and chemoresistance but as there are only a small percentage of cancer stem cells in a solid tumor, this makes it difficult to isolate and analyze them, as well as to study the origin of drug resistance.

Scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (Madrid, Spain) identified cells with an autofluorescent subcellular compartment that exclusively showed CSC features across different human tumor types. Primary tumor–derived autofluorescent cells did not overlap with side-population (SP) cells, were enriched in sphere culture and during chemotherapy, strongly expressed pluripotency-associated genes, were highly metastatic and showed long-term in vivo tumorigenicity, even at the single-cell level.

Autofluorescence was due to riboflavin accumulation in membrane-bounded cytoplasmic structures bearing adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) transporters. The team was able to characterize an intrinsic autofluorescent phenotype in CSCs of diverse epithelial cancers and used this marker to isolate and characterize these cells. Riboflavin is a pigment that emits green fluorescence as a result of its accumulation inside intracellular vesicles. This light emission property, acts to track, isolate, and later purify it, without the need for antibodies or other more costly and complex techniques. The discovery was carried out in several types of tumors, including samples from patients with pancreas, liver, colon and lung cancer.

Christopher Heeschen MD, PhD, the senior author of the study said, “The discovery of this new marker is a breakthrough, as it can select for tumor stem cells, which are the most invasive and chemical-resistant cancer cells. Autofluorescence allows these cells to be tracked in an easy, simple and inexpensive way, as well as to study the origin of the tumor’s chemical resistance.” The study was published on September 28, 2014, in the journal Nature Medicine.

Related Links:
Spanish National Cancer Research Center 


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Cancer Mutation Profiling Liquid Kit
OncoScreen Plus

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.