ZIP4 Is a Novel Cancer Stem Cell Marker in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

ABSTRACT: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is one of the most deadly and heterogenic cancers. We have recently shown that ZIP4 (gene name SLC39A4), a zinc transporter, is functionally involved in cancer stem cell (CSC)-related cellular activities in HGSOC. Here, we identified ZIP4 as a novel CSC marker in HGSOC. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS)-sorted ZIP4+, but not ZIP4- cells, formed spheroids and displayed self-renewing and differentiation abilities. Over-expression of ZIP4 conferred drug resistance properties in vitro. ZIP4+, but not ZIP4- cells, formed tumors/ascites in vivo. We conducted limiting dilution experiments and showed that 100-200 ZIP4+ cells from both PE04 and PEA2 cells formed larger tumors than those from 100-200 ALDH+ cells in mice. Mechanistically, we found that

SUBMITTER: Fan Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7764492 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature