Nanog, Cancer Stem Cells, and Resistance to Chemotherapy
Abstract
It is now increasingly accepted that cancer stem cells (CSCs, or tumor initiating cells) are responsible for tumor initiation. If cancer treatment kills most of cancer cells in the stage of transit amplifying and differentiation without killing the stem cells, the surviving cancer stem cells will eventually lead to recurrence of tumors. To eradicate cancer, we must learn more about the biology of cancer stem cells, their responses to treatments, and their role in tumor recurrence after treatment. In the preliminary studies, I found that Nanog, a transcription factor essential for self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, was expressed in prostate cancer cells, and further its expression was associated with tumor cells positive for stem/progenitor markers. Knockdown of Nanog reduced the ability of cancer cell to form tumors in an animal model. I further found that tumor cells with endogenous Nanog expression were particular resistant to chemotherapy. The data suggest that Nanog is associated with prostate cancer stem cells and Nanog may cause resistance toward chemotherapy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA554214
Entities
People
- Hongmei Jiang
Organizations
- Southern Illinois University