Identification of Cancer Stem Cell Molecular Markers and Effects of hsa-miR-21-3p on Stemness in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are closely related to tumor resistance and tumor recurrence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The lack of specific biomarkers to identify and isolate CSCs has led to the slow progression of research on CSCs in ESCC. Here, we established a method to identify and isolate CSCs in ESCC using fluorescence-activated cell sorting with combined surface biomarkers including CD71, CD271, and CD338. CD71-/CD271⁺/CD338⁺ subpopulation cells possessed more stem cell properties in proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation, metastasis, drug resistance, and tumorigenesis. We further explored possible roles that microRNAs played in stem cells. Using microarrays, we identified that has-miR-21-3p was highly expressed in positive sorted cells, and further functional and

SUBMITTER: Gao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6521292 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature