技术资料

Normal stem cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) share similar properties,in that both have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. In both the normal stem cell and cancer stem cell fields,there has been a great need for a universal marker that can effectively identify and isolate these rare populations of cells in order to characterize them and use this information for research and therapeutic purposes. Currently,it would appear that certain isoenzymes of the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) superfamily may be able to fulfill this role as a marker for both normal and cancer stem cells. ALDH has been identified as an important enzyme in the protection of normal hematopoietic stem cells,and is now also widely used as a marker to identify and isolate various types of normal stem cells and CSCs. In addition,emerging evidence suggests that ALDH1 is not only a marker for stem cells,but may also play important functional roles related to self-protection,differentiation,and expansion. This comprehensive review discusses the role that ALDH plays in normal stem cells and CSCs,with focus on ALDH1 and ALDH3A1. Discrepancies in the functional themes between cell types and future perspectives for therapeutic applications will also be discussed. View Publication

Current treatment options for advanced and hormone refractory prostate cancer are limited and responses to commonly used androgen pathway inhibitors are often unsatisfactory. Our recent results indicated that sodium ionophore monensin is one of the most potent and cancer-specific inhibitors in a systematic sensitivity testing of most known drugs and drug-like molecules in a panel of prostate cancer cell models. Because monensin has been extensively used in veterinary applications to build muscle mass in cattle,the link to prostate cancer and androgen signaling was particularly interesting. Here,we showed that monensin effects at nanomolar concentrations are linked to induction of apoptosis and potent reduction of androgen receptor mRNA and protein in prostate cancer cells. Monensin also elevated intracellular oxidative stress in prostate cancer cells as evidenced by increased generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and by induction of a transcriptional profile characteristic of an oxidative stress response. Importantly,the antiproliferative effects of monensin were potentiated by combinatorial treatment with the antiandrogens and antagonized by antioxidant vitamin C. Taken together,our results suggest monensin as a potential well-tolerated,in vivo compatible drug with strong proapoptotic effects in prostate cancer cells,and synergistic effects with antiandrogens. Moreover,our data suggest a general strategy by which the effects of antiandrogens could be enhanced by combinatorial administration with agents that increase oxidative stress in prostate cancer cells. View Publication

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer cells include a small population of cancer stem-like/cancer initiating cells,which have roles in cancer initiation and progression. Recently aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was used to isolate stem cells of various cancer and normal cells. We evaluated the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity of the human prostate cancer cell line 22Rv1 (ATCC®) with the ALDEFLUOR® assay and determined its potency as prostate cancer stem-like/cancer initiating cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human prostate cancer cell line 22Rv1 was labeled with ALDEFLUOR reagent and analyzed by flow cytometry. ALDH1(high) and ALDH1(low) cells were isolated and tumorigenicity was evaluated by xenograft transplantation into NOD/SCID mice. Tumor sphere forming ability was evaluated by culturing in a floating condition. Invasion capability was evaluated by the Matrigel™ invasion assay. Gene expression profiling was assessed by microarrays and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: ALDH1(high) cells were detected in 6.8% of 22Rv1 cells,which showed significantly higher tumorigenicity than ALDH1(low) cells in NOD/SCID mice (p textless 0.05). Gene expression profiling revealed higher expression of the stem cell related genes PROM1 and NKX3-1 in ALDH1(high) cells than in ALDH1(low) cells. ALDH1(high) cells also showed higher invasive capability and sphere forming capability than ALDH1(low) cells. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that cancer stem-like/cancer initiating cells are enriched in the ALDH1(high) population of the prostate cancer cell line 22Rv1. This approach may provide a breakthrough to further clarify prostate cancer stem-like/cancer initiating cells. To our knowledge this is the first report of cancer stem-like/cancer initiating cells of 22Rv1 using the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity assay. View Publication