Expression and activity of ion transport-related molecules in cancer stem cells of esophageal cancer.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19904
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ishimoto Takeshi 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (00724494)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 食道癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to investigate the expression and activity of ion transport-related molecules in cancer stem cells (CSCs) of esophageal cancer (EC). Cells with high ALDH1 activity were isolated from TE8 cells via cell sorter, and then, CSCs were generated using the sphere formation assay. The gene expression profiles of CSCs were examined using a microarray analysis. CSCs upregulated ALDH1 expression, were resistant to Cisplatin and had re-differentiation ability. The microarray analysis revealed 50 gene expressions of membrane proteins were changed in CSCs, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2). The specific TRPV2 inhibitor, Tranilast, was more cytotoxic at lower concentration in CSCs than in non-CSCs, and effectively inhibited sphere formation. Tranilast significantly decreased the cell population with high ALDH1 expression in TE8 cells. These suggested TRPV2 is involved in the maintenance of CSCs, and Tranilast becomes a promising targeted therapeutic agent.

Free Research Field

消化器外科学