L1 cell adhesion molecule confers radioresistance to ovarian cancer and defines a new cancer stem cell population


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Date

2020-01

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

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Abstract

Many solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, contain small populations of cancer stem cells (CSCs). These cells are usually resistant against conventional cancer therapies and play a role in disease recurrence. We demonstrated that the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) is a new CSC target in ovarian cancer, triggering radioresistance. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, specific cell populations expressing L1CAM alone or in combination with the established CSC marker CD133 were isolated from three ovarian cancer cell lines. Double-positive L1CAM+/CD133+ cells displayed higher spherogenic and clonogenic properties in comparison to L1CAM−/CD133− cells. Furthermore, L1CAM+/CD133+ cells retained highest clonogenic capacity after irradiation and exhibited up-regulation of some CSC-specific genes, enhanced tumor-initiating capacity, self-renewal and higher tumor take rate in nude mice when compared with other cell populations. Superior radioresistance by L1CAM expression was confirmed by deletion of L1CAM using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Moreover, we found expression signatures associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype in L1CAM deleted cells. These results indicate that L1CAM in combination with CD133 defines a new cancer cell population of ovarian tumor-initiating cells with the implication of targeting L1CAM as a novel therapeutic approach for ovarian CSCs.

Publication status

published

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Journal / series

Volume

12 (1)

Pages / Article No.

217

Publisher

MDPI

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Subject

L1 cell adhesion molecule; ovarian cancer; stem cells; radioresistance; CRISPR-Cas9; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Organisational unit

03688 - Schibli, Roger / Schibli, Roger check_circle

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