CD200-expressing human basal cell carcinoma cells initiate tumor growth

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2013-01, Vol.110 (4), p.1434-1439
• Main Authors: Colmont, Chantai S., BenKetah, Antisar, Reed, Simon H., Hawk, Nga V., Telford, William G., Ohyama, Manabu, Udey, Mark C., Yee, Carole L., Vogel, Jonathan C., Patel, Girish K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Basal cell carcinoma; Basal cell neoplasms; Biological Sciences; Cancer; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Cell Differentiation; Cell growth; Cell Proliferation; Cells; Genes; Hair follicles; Heterologous transplantation; Humans; Keratins; Keratins - metabolism; Kruppel-Like Factor 4; Medical treatment; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, Nude; Mice, SCID; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - antagonists & inhibitors; Skin Neoplasms - immunology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Smoothened Receptor; Stem cells; Tissue grafting; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tumor Stem Cell Assay; Tumors
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211655110

Smoothened antagonists directly target the genetic basis of human basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common of all cancers. These drugs inhibit BCC growth, but they are not curative. Although BCC cells are monomorphic, immunofluorescence microscopy reveals a complex hierarchical pattern of growth with inward differentiation along hair follicle lineages. Most BCC cells express the transcription factor KLF4 and are committed to terminal differentiation. A small CD200 ⁺ CD45 ⁻ BCC subpopulation that represents 1.63 ± 1.11% of all BCC cells resides in small clusters at the tumor periphery. By using reproducible in vivo xenograft growth assays, we determined that tumor initiating cell frequencies approximate one per 1.5 million unsorted BCC cells. The CD200 ⁺ CD45 ⁻ BCC subpopulation recreated BCC tumor growth in vivo with typical histological architecture and expression of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes. Reproducible in vivo BCC growth was achieved with as few as 10,000 CD200 ⁺ CD45 ⁻ cells, representing ∼1,500-fold enrichment. CD200 ⁻ CD45 ⁻ BCC cells were unable to form tumors. These findings establish a platform to study the effects of Smoothened antagonists on BCC tumor initiating cell and also suggest that currently available anti-CD200 therapy be considered, either as monotherapy or an adjunct to Smoothened antagonists, in the treatment of inoperable BCC.