SSEA-1 is an enrichment marker for tumor-initiating cells in human glioblastoma.

TitleSSEA-1 is an enrichment marker for tumor-initiating cells in human glioblastoma.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSon MJin, Woolard K, Nam D-H, Lee J, Fine HA
JournalCell Stem Cell
Volume4
Issue5
Pagination440-52
Date Published2009 May 08
ISSN1875-9777
KeywordsAnimals, Cell Cycle, Cell Differentiation, Cell Lineage, Cell Proliferation, Female, Flow Cytometry, Glioblastoma, Humans, Lewis X Antigen, Male, Mice, Mice, SCID, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Abstract

CD133+ populations of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells are reportedly enriched for tumor stem cells (TSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Approximately 40% of freshly isolated GBM specimens, however, do not contain CD133+ tumor cells, raising the possibility that CD133 may not be a universal enrichment marker for GBM TSCs/TICs. Here we demonstrate that stage-specific embryonic antigen 1(SSEA-1/LeX)+ GBM cells fulfill the functional criteria for TSC/TIC, since (1) SSEA-1+ cells are highly tumorigenic in vivo, unlike SSEA-1- cells; (2) SSEA-1+ cells can give rise to both SSEA-1+ and SSEA-1- cells, thereby establishing a cellular hierarchy; and (3) SSEA-1+ cells have self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potentials. A distinct subpopulation of SSEA-1+ cells was present in all but one of the primary GBMs examined (n = 24), and most CD133+ tumor cells were also SSEA-1+, suggesting that SSEA-1 may be a general TSC/TIC enrichment marker in human GBMs.

DOI10.1016/j.stem.2009.03.003
Alternate JournalCell Stem Cell
PubMed ID19427293
Grant List / / Intramural NIH HHS / United States