Alpha-fetoprotein-producing pancreatic cancer cells possess cancer stem cell characteristics

作者：Sasaki Naoya; Ishii Takamichi^*; Kamimura Ryo; Kajiwara Masatoshi; Machimoto Takafumi; Nakatsuji Norio; Suemori Hirofumi; Ikai Iwao; Yasuchika Kentaro; Uemoto Shinji

来源：Cancer Letters, 2011, 308(2): 152-161.

DOI：10.1016/j.canlet.2011.04.023

• Cancer stem cell
• Pancreatic cancer
• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
• ATP-binding cassette
• Sub-family A (ABC1)
• Member 12 (ABCA12)

We aimed to demonstrate the existence of cancer stem cells in human pancreatic cancer, and to clarify that they are alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing cells. Six cell lines derived from human pancreatic cancers were examined, and AsPC-1 and PANC-1 were noted to express AFP. Single cell culture assays and xenotransplantation revealed that the AFP-producing cells had the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation, and that these cells were tumorigenic. Furthermore, they were resistant to anti-cancer agents. The ABCA12 transporter was expressed in the AFP-producing cells at a level more than twice as high as that in the non-AFP-producing cells.
The AFP-producing cells were shown to be putative pancreatic cancer stem cells. Furthermore, the expression of ABCA12 appears to be associated with drug resistance.

• 出版日期2011-9-28