Targeting of replicating CD133 and OCT4/SOX2 expressing glioma stem cells selects a cell population that reinitiates tumors upon release of therapeutic pressure

Autors/es

Guerra-Rebollo, M.; Garrido, C.; Sánchez-Cid, L.; Soler-Botija, C.; Meca-Cortés, O.; Rubio N, Blanco, J.

Abstract

The existence of radio- and chemotherapy-surviving cancer stem cells is currently believed to explain the inefficacy of anti-glioblastoma (GBM) therapies. The aim of this study was to determine if a therapeutic strategy specifically targeting GBM stem cells (GSC) would completely eradicate a GBM tumor. In both the in vitro and the in vivo models, ganciclovir therapy targeting proliferating GSC promotes the survival of a quiescent, stem-like cell pool capable of reproducing the tumor upon release of the therapeutic pressure. Images of small niches of therapy-surviving tumor cells show organized networks of vascular-like structures formed by tumor cells expressing CD133 or OCT4/SOX2. These results prompted the investigation of tumor cells differentiated to endothelial and pericytic lineages as a potential reservoir of tumor-initiating capacity. Isolated tumor cells with pericyte and endothelial cell lineage characteristics, grown under tumorsphere forming conditions and were able to reproduce tumors after implantation in mice.

WoS

Scopus

 

Altmetrics

  

 

Publicació

Scientific Reports, 2019, vol. 9, art. no. 9549

Data de publicació

2019-07-02

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46014-0