Stemness and anti-cancer drug resistance in ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 highly expressed pancreatic cancer is induced in 3D culture conditions

Cancer Sci. 2018 Apr;109(4):1135-1146. doi: 10.1111/cas.13533. Epub 2018 Mar 25.

Abstract

The expression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) is related to tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSC) in several cancers. However, the effects of ABCG2 on CSC-related malignant characteristics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not well elucidated. In this study, we compared the characteristics of low (ABCG2-) and high (ABCG2+)-ABCG2-expressing PDAC cells after cell sorting. In adherent culture condition, human PDAC cells, PANC-1, contained approximately 10% ABCG2+ cell populations, and ABCG2+ cells displayed more and longer microvilli compared with ABCG2- cells. Unexpectedly, ABCG2+ cells did not show significant drug resistance against fluorouracil, gemcitabine and vincristine, and ABCG2- cells exhibited higher sphere formation ability and stemness marker expression than those of ABCG2+ cells. Cell growth and motility was greater in ABCG2- cells compared with ABCG2+ cells. In contrast, epithelial-mesenchymal transition ability between ABCG2- and ABCG2+ cells was comparable. In 3D culture conditions, spheres derived from ABCG2- cells generated a large number of ABCG2+ cells, and the expression levels of stemness markers in these spheres were higher than spheres from ABCG2+ cells. Furthermore, spheres containing large populations of ABCG2+ cells exhibited high resistance against anti-cancer drugs presumably depending on ABCG2. ABCG2+ cells in PDAC in adherent culture are not correlated with stemness and malignant behaviors, but ABCG2+ cells derived from ABCG2- cells after sphere formation have stemness characteristics and anti-cancer drug resistance. These findings suggest that ABCG2- cells generate ABCG2+ cells and the malignant potential of ABCG2+ cells in PDAC varies depending on their environments.

Keywords: ABCG2; cancer stem cell; pancreatic cancer; sphere formation; stemness.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2 / genetics*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • ABCG2 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Neoplasm Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Pancreatic Carcinoma