in the Teaching Material of
Medical Biotechnology Master’s Programmes
at the University of Pécs and at the University of Debrecen
Identification number: TÁMOP-4.1.2-08/1/A-2009-0011
CANCER STEM CELLS
Dr. Péter Balogh and Dr. Péter Engelmann
Transdifferentiation and regenerative medicine – Lecture 13
Manifestation of Novel Social Challenges of the European Union in the Teaching Material of
Medical Biotechnology Master’s Programmes
at the University of Pécs and at the University of Debrecen
Identification number: TÁMOP-4.1.2-08/1/A-2009-0011
Cancer and cancer stem cell theory
Cell of origin
Oncogenic events Therapy
Pre-cancer Cancer-diagnosis Remission Relapse
Time
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History of Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) theory
• Only a minority of malignant cells can induce tumors (1930-1950)
• SCF-U: identification of individual normal hemopoietic precursors generating large number of mature cells (1960-es)
• TFU: tumor-forming unit – malignant cells from one colony could generate large number of secondary colonies
• The composition of most tumors is heterogeneous
• AML – single cell source for an entire spectrum of malignant cells
(1990-es)
Solid tissue tumor CSCs
• Breast cancer
• Brain tumor
• Pancreatic cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colonic cancer, etc.
• Melanoma: use of a more immunocompromised mouse recipient led to the identification of higher number of CSCs than in
conventional SCID recipients
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Solid tissue CSC markers
Cancer CSC marker
AML CD34+/CD38-
Brain tumor CD133+
Breast cancer CD44+/CD24-/Lin- Prostate cancer CD44+, CD133+
Retinoblastoma ABCG2+
Lung cancer SP-C+CCA+
Colon cancer CD133+
CSC development: stochastic or hierarchic evolution and clonal selection
Cancer
stem cells
Selective pressures
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Altered niche for CSCs
Under normal physiological conditions
In cancers or tumors
Transient signal
Dominant signal
Self-renewal
Active or in division, but still in the stage of slow cycling
Regulated proliferation and proper differentation Niche
Stem cell Quiescent
Niche
Stem cell
Dominant signal
Transient signal
Active, but slow cycling
Uncontrolled proliferation and impaired differentation poised for
additional genetic mutation Niche
Stem cell Quiescent
Niche
Stem cell
AML niche characteristics
Normal HSC (LKS+, CD34, CD150+, CD48-) Impaired normal HSC niche function
• Direct invasion of niche
• Secreted substances such as SCF
• Pathway activation leading to enhanced self-renewal
• Enforced LSC quiescence
• Resistance to chemotherapy including secretion of antagonists
Sympathetic nervous system regulation
Endosteal regulatory elements (osteoblasts, Osteoclasts, bone
matrix, osteopontin,calcium)
Loss of traditional niche dependence and homing to alternative niche
Dysregulated homing and engraftment
• CXCR4/CXCR12 interactions
• Up-regulation of adhesion molecules such as VLA-4
LSC (human CD34+/CD38-
; murine lin-, c-kit+, Sca-1-)
Mature hematopoietic cells (paracrine
cytokines)
• Enhanced cytokine responsiveness
• Determination of immunophenotype
Perivascular regulatory elements (endothelium, CAR, MSC)
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