Genes involved in regulation of stem cell properties: studies on their expression in a small cohort of neuroblastoma patients

Cancer stem cells have been isolated from many tumors. Several evidences prove that neuroblastoma contains its own stem cell-like cancer cells. We chose to analyze  20 neuroblastoma tumor samples in the expression of 13 genes involved in the regulation of stem cell properties to evaluate if their mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer biology & therapy 2009-07, Vol.8 (13), p.1300-1306
Main Authors: Melone, Mariarosa A.B., Giulano, Maria, Squillaro, Tiziana, Alessio, Nicola, Casale, Fiorina, Mattioli, Eliseo, Cipollaro, Marilena, Giordano, Antonio, Galderisi, Umberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binding
Biology
Bioscience
Calcium
Cancer
Cell
Cell Line, Tumor
Cluster Analysis
Cohort Studies
Cycle
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Homeodomain Proteins - genetics
Humans
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics
Landes
Nanog Homeobox Protein
Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism
Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology
Neuroblastoma - genetics
Neuroblastoma - pathology
Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - genetics
Organogenesis
Proteins
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
SOXB1 Transcription Factors - genetics
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Summary:Cancer stem cells have been isolated from many tumors. Several evidences prove that neuroblastoma contains its own stem cell-like cancer cells. We chose to analyze  20 neuroblastoma tumor samples in the expression of 13 genes involved in the regulation of stem cell properties to evaluate if their misregulation could have a clinical relevance. In several specimens we detected the expression of genes belonging to the OCT3/SOX2/NANOG/KLF4 core circuitry that acts at the highest level in regulating stem cell biology. This result is in agreement with studies showing the existence of malignant stem cells in neuroblastoma. We also observed differences in the expression of some stemness-related genes that may be useful for developing new prognostic analyses. In fact, preliminary data suggests that the presence/absence of UTF1 along with differences in BMI1 mRNA levels could distinguish low grade neuroblastomas from IV stage tumors.
ISSN:1538-4047
1555-8576
DOI:10.4161/cbt.8.13.8890