Fusion with stem cell makes the hepatocellular carcinoma cells similar to liver tumor-initiating cells

Cell fusion is a fast and highly efficient technique for cells to acquire new properties. The fusion of somatic cells with stem cells can reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. Our research on the fusion of stem cells and cancer cells demonstrates that the fused cells can exhibit stemness a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC cancer 2016-02, Vol.16 (59), p.56-56, Article 56
Main Authors: Wang, Ran, Chen, Shuxun, Li, Changxian, Ng, Kevin Tak Pan, Kong, Chi-wing, Cheng, Jinping, Cheng, Shuk Han, Li, Ronald A, Lo, Chung Mau, Man, Kwan, Sun, Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Cancer therapies
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology
Care and treatment
Cell Fusion
Cell Line, Tumor
Complications and side effects
Drug resistance
Flow Cytometry
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Genetic engineering
Hepatoma
Human Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism
Human Embryonic Stem Cells - pathology
Humans
Hyaluronan Receptors - biosynthesis
Lasers
Liver - metabolism
Liver - pathology
Liver cancer
Liver Neoplasms - pathology
Metastasis
Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis
Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism
Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology
Statistical analysis
Stem cell research
Stem cells
Tumorigenesis
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Summary:Cell fusion is a fast and highly efficient technique for cells to acquire new properties. The fusion of somatic cells with stem cells can reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. Our research on the fusion of stem cells and cancer cells demonstrates that the fused cells can exhibit stemness and cancer cell-like characteristics. Thus, tumor-initiating cell-like cells are generated. We employed laser-induced single-cell fusion technique to fuse the hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human embryonic stem cells (hESC). Real-time RT-PCR, flow cytometry and in vivo tumorigenicity assay were adopted to identify the gene expression difference. We successfully produced a fused cell line that coalesces the gene expression information of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and stem cells. Experimental results showed that the fused cells expressed cancer and stemness markers as well as exhibited increased resistance to drug treatment and enhanced tumorigenesis. Fusion with stem cells transforms liver cancer cells into tumor initiating-like cells. Results indicate that fusion between cancer cell and stem cell may generate tumor initiating-like cells.
ISSN:1471-2407
1471-2407
DOI:10.1186/s12885-016-2094-7