Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Valentina Pozzi; Davide Sartini; Romina Rocchetti; Andrea Santarelli; Corrado Rubini; Stefano Morganti; Rachela Giuliante; Stefania Calabrese; Giulia Di Ruscio; Fiorenza Orlando; Mauro Provinciali; Franca Saccucci; Lorenzo Lo Muzio; Monica Emanuelli

doi:10.1159/000430138

Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Valentina Pozzi, Davide Sartini, Romina Rocchetti, Andrea Santarelli, Corrado Rubini, Stefano Morganti, Rachela Giuliante, Stefania Calabrese, Giulia Di Ruscio, Fiorenza Orlando, Mauro Provinciali, Franca Saccucci, Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Monica Emanuelli

Istituto Nazionale di Riposo e Cura per Anziani V.E. II

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background/Aims: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks sixth worldwide for tumor-related mortality. A subpopulation of tumor cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), has the ability to support cancer growth. Therefore, profiling CSC-enriched populations could be a reliable tool to study cancer biology. Methods: We performed phenotypic characterization of 7 HNSCC cell lines and evaluated the presence of CSCs. CSCs from Hep-2 cell line and HNSCC primary cultures were enriched through sphere formation and sphere-forming cells have been characterized both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we investigated the expression levels of Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme overexpressed in several malignancies. Results: CSC markers were markedly expressed in Hep-2 cell line, which was found to be highly tumorigenic. CSC-enriched populations displayed increased expression of CSC markers and a strong capability to form tumors in vivo. We also found an overexpression of CSC markers in tumor formed by CSC-enriched populations. Interestingly, NNMT levels were significantly higher in CSC-enriched populations compared with parental cells. Conclusion: Our study provides an useful procedure for CSC identification and enrichment in HNSCC. Moreover, results obtained seem to suggest that CSCs may represent a promising target for an anticancer therapy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	784-798
Number of pages	15
Journal	Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
Volume	36
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000430138
Publication status	Published - Jun 1 2015

Keywords

Cancer stem cells
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physiology
Medicine(all)

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10.1159/000430138

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Pozzi, V., Sartini, D., Rocchetti, R., Santarelli, A., Rubini, C., Morganti, S., Giuliante, R., Calabrese, S., Di Ruscio, G., Orlando, F., Provinciali, M., Saccucci, F., Muzio, L. L., & Emanuelli, M. (2015). Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 36(2), 784-798. https://doi.org/10.1159/000430138

Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. / Pozzi, Valentina; Sartini, Davide; Rocchetti, Romina; Santarelli, Andrea; Rubini, Corrado; Morganti, Stefano; Giuliante, Rachela; Calabrese, Stefania; Di Ruscio, Giulia; Orlando, Fiorenza ; Provinciali, Mauro; Saccucci, Franca; Muzio, Lorenzo Lo; Emanuelli, Monica.

In: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, Vol. 36, No. 2, 01.06.2015, p. 784-798.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Pozzi, V, Sartini, D, Rocchetti, R, Santarelli, A, Rubini, C, Morganti, S, Giuliante, R, Calabrese, S, Di Ruscio, G, Orlando, F , Provinciali, M, Saccucci, F, Muzio, LL & Emanuelli, M 2015, 'Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines', Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 784-798. https://doi.org/10.1159/000430138

Pozzi, Valentina ; Sartini, Davide ; Rocchetti, Romina ; Santarelli, Andrea ; Rubini, Corrado ; Morganti, Stefano ; Giuliante, Rachela ; Calabrese, Stefania ; Di Ruscio, Giulia ; Orlando, Fiorenza ; Provinciali, Mauro ; Saccucci, Franca ; Muzio, Lorenzo Lo ; Emanuelli, Monica. / Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. In: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. 2015 ; Vol. 36, No. 2. pp. 784-798.

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abstract = "Background/Aims: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks sixth worldwide for tumor-related mortality. A subpopulation of tumor cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), has the ability to support cancer growth. Therefore, profiling CSC-enriched populations could be a reliable tool to study cancer biology. Methods: We performed phenotypic characterization of 7 HNSCC cell lines and evaluated the presence of CSCs. CSCs from Hep-2 cell line and HNSCC primary cultures were enriched through sphere formation and sphere-forming cells have been characterized both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we investigated the expression levels of Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme overexpressed in several malignancies. Results: CSC markers were markedly expressed in Hep-2 cell line, which was found to be highly tumorigenic. CSC-enriched populations displayed increased expression of CSC markers and a strong capability to form tumors in vivo. We also found an overexpression of CSC markers in tumor formed by CSC-enriched populations. Interestingly, NNMT levels were significantly higher in CSC-enriched populations compared with parental cells. Conclusion: Our study provides an useful procedure for CSC identification and enrichment in HNSCC. Moreover, results obtained seem to suggest that CSCs may represent a promising target for an anticancer therapy.",

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AU - Pozzi, Valentina

AU - Sartini, Davide

AU - Rocchetti, Romina

AU - Santarelli, Andrea

AU - Rubini, Corrado

AU - Morganti, Stefano

AU - Giuliante, Rachela

AU - Calabrese, Stefania

AU - Di Ruscio, Giulia

AU - Orlando, Fiorenza

AU - Provinciali, Mauro

AU - Saccucci, Franca

AU - Muzio, Lorenzo Lo

AU - Emanuelli, Monica

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Identification and characterization of cancer stem cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Abstract

Keywords

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