CD133+ liver cancer stem cells modulate radioresistance in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer Lett. 2012 Feb 28;315(2):129-37. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.10.012. Epub 2011 Oct 23.

Abstract

CD133 is a cancer stem-cell (CSC) marker associated with radioresistance and chemoresistance in various cancers. In the present study, CD133-expressing liver cancer cells following radiation exposure showed higher activation of MAPK/PI3K signaling pathway and reduction in reactive oxygen species levels compared to CD133- cells. The in vivo study with a xenograft model showed increased tumor formation in irradiated CD133+ cell-injected nude mice compared to the CD133- group, suggesting that CD133 contributes to radioresistance in HCC. Therefore, CD133-expressing liver cancer cells have anti-apoptotic and radioresistance properties that may be useful to improve anti-cancer treatments, including chemotherapy/radiotherapy of HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics*
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / physiopathology*
  • Cell Cycle / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / radiation effects
  • Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / radiation effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Peptides / genetics*
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Radiation Tolerance / genetics*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • AC133 Antigen
  • Antigens, CD
  • Glycoproteins
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Prom1 protein, mouse
  • Reactive Oxygen Species