Arsenic trioxide inhibits the growth of cancer stem cells derived from small cell lung cancer by downregulating stem cell-maintenance factors and inducing apoptosis via the Hedgehog signaling blockade.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most deadly and aggressive type of primary lung cancer, with the 5-year survival rate lower than 5%. The FDA has approved arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treatment. However, its role in SCLC-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains largely unknown.

Methods

CSCs were enriched from SCLC cell lines by culturing them as spheres in conditioned serum-free medium. Then, qPCR, western blot, serial passage, limiting dilution, Transwell, and tumorigenesis assay were performed to verify the cells' stem phenotypic characteristics. Anticancer efficiency of As₂O₃ was assessed in these cells using CCK8, colony formation, sphere formation, flow cytometry, qPCR, western

SUBMITTER: Chang KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7481635 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature