Open AccessLipid Droplets: A New Player in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells Unveiled by Spectroscopic Imaging
Author(s) -
Tirinato Luca,
Liberale Carlo,
Di Franco Simone,
Candeloro Patrizio,
Benfante Antonina,
La Rocca Rosanna,
Potze Lisette,
Marotta Roberto,
Ruffilli Roberta,
Rajamanickam Vijayakumar P.,
Malerba Mario,
De Angelis Francesco,
Falqui Andrea,
Carbone Ennio,
Todaro Matilde,
Medema Jan Paul,
Stassi Giorgio,
Di Fabrizio Enzo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.1837
Subject(s) - cancer stem cell , biology , wnt signaling pathway , stem cell , lipid droplet , cancer research , cancer , colorectal cancer , embryonic stem cell , cancer cell , organelle , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , signal transduction , genetics , gene
The cancer stem cell (CSC) model is describing tumors as a hierarchical organized system and CSCs are suggested to be responsible for cancer recurrence after therapy. The identification of specific markers of CSCs is therefore of paramount importance. Here, we show that high levels of lipid droplets (LDs) are a distinctive mark of CSCs in colorectal (CR) cancer. This increased lipid content was clearly revealed by label‐free Raman spectroscopy and it directly correlates with well‐accepted CR‐CSC markers as CD133 and Wnt pathway activity. By xenotransplantation experiments, we have finally demonstrated that CR‐CSCs overexpressing LDs retain most tumorigenic potential. A relevant conceptual advance in this work is the demonstration that a cellular organelle, the LD, is a signature of CSCs, in addition to molecular markers. A further functional characterization of LDs could lead soon to design new target therapies against CR‐CSCs. S tem C ells 2015;33:35–44