Podoplanin, a novel marker of tumor-initiating cells in human squamous cell carcinoma A431

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Aug 15;373(1):36-41. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.163. Epub 2008 Jun 6.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor that shows morphologic and phenotypic similarities to normally differentiated squamous epithelium. Thus, it may be an ideal model for seeking a marker of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) based on their morphology. Using the human SCC cell line A431, we found that, as a paradigm of cancer stem cells: (1) podoplanin(+) cells generate both podoplanin(+) and podoplanin(-) cells; (2) podoplanin(-) cells rarely generate podoplanin(+) cells; (3) podoplanin(+) cells have higher colony formation efficiency and tumorigenicity than podoplanin(-) cells; (4) localization and morphology of podoplanin(+) cells in a xenografted tumor derived from podoplanin(+) cells are similar with those in human oral SCC tissue or normal epithelium. Furthermore, podoplanin(+) A431 cells share sonic hedgehog and CD44 expression with stem cells in normal squamous epithelium. Hence, we concluded that podoplanin is a novel marker to enrich TICs with stem-cell-like properties from SCC cell line A431.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Hedgehog Proteins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / analysis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mouth Mucosa / chemistry
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / chemistry*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • PDPN protein, human
  • SHH protein, human