Human mesenchymal stem cells preferentially migrate toward highly oncogenic human hepatocellular carcinoma cells with activated EpCAM signaling.

ABSTRACT: The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is regarded as one of the markers for tumor initiating cells (TIC) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Much work has been directed towards targeting these TICs as a mean of placing these master regulators of cell proliferation and drug resistance under control. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are known to exhibit an innate property of tumor tropism. However, the possible relationship between MSC and TIC is not well understood. In this study, we show that MSC migration to HCC can be effectively inhibited by TACE and γ-secretase inhibitors that stop the activation of EpCAM signaling event. Silencing of EpCAM expression through siRNA and antibody approaches also resulted in impaired

SUBMITTER: Endaya B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5589609 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature