Targeting Endometrial Cancer Stem Cell Activity with Metformin Is Inhibited by Patient-Derived Adipocyte-Secreted Factors.

ABSTRACT: Advanced endometrial cancer continues to have a poor prognosis, due to limited treatment options, which may be further adversely impacted by obesity. Endometrial cancer stem cells have been reported to drive metastasis, chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse, but have yet to be fully characterised and no specific targeted therapies have been identified. Here, we describe the phenotype and genotype of aldehyde dehydrogenase high (ALDHhigh) and CD133+ve endometrial cancer stem cells and how adipocyte secreted mediators block the inhibitory effect of metformin on endometrial cancer stem cell activity. Ishikawa and Hec-1a cell lines were used to characterise ALDHhigh and CD133+ve endometrial cancer cells using flow cytometry, functional sphere assays and quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reac

SUBMITTER: Kitson SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6562824 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature