Open Accessc-Met in pancreatic cancer stem cells: Therapeutic implications
Author(s) -
Marta Herreros-Villanueva,
Aizpea Zubia-Olascoaga,
Luís Bujanda
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v18.i38.5321
Subject(s) - pancreatic cancer , cancer stem cell , cancer research , nod , cancer , population , stem cell , pancreas , medicine , biology , immunology , oncology , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , genetics , environmental health
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest solid cancer and currently the fourth most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths. Emerging evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in the development and progression of this disease. The identification of CSC markers could lead to the development of new therapeutic targets. In this study, the authors explore the functional role of c-Met in pancreatic CSCs, by analyzing self-renewal with sphere assays and tumorigenicity capacity in NOD SCID mice. They concluded that c-Met is a novel marker for identifying pancreatic CSCs and c-Met(high) in a higher tumorigenic cancer cell population. Inhibition of c-Met with XL184 blocks self-renewal capacity in pancreatic CSCs. In pancreatic tumors established in NOD SCID mice, c-Met inhibition slowed tumor growth and reduced the population of CSCs, along with preventing the development of metastases.