Characterization of colon cancer cells: a functional approach characterizing CD133 as a potential stem cell marker.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Isolation and characterization of tumourigenic colon cancer initiating cells may help to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Methods

We characterized a panel of fourteen human colon carcinoma cell lines and their corresponding xenografts for the surface expression of potential stem cell markers CD133, CD24, CD44, CDCP1 and CXCR4. In five cell lines and nine xenografts, mRNA expression of these markers was determined. Tumour growth behaviour of CD133+, CD133- and unsorted SW620 cells was evaluated in vivo.

Results

All five putative stem cell markers showed distinct expression patterns in the tumours examined. Two patient-derived cell lines highly expressed CD133 (> 85% of positive cells) and three other cell lines had an expression level of

SUBMITTER: Schneider M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368744 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature