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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Isolation of Stem Cells from Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts
Published on: September 26, 2010
Detection of tumor stem cell markers in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines
Monika Olempska1, Patricia Alice Eisenach, Ole Ammerpohl
1Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold Heller Str. 7, 24 105 Kiel, Germany.
Background:
Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in industrialized countries. In malignancy, actively proliferating cells may be effectively targeted and killed by anti-cancer therapies, but stem cells may survive and support re-growth of the tumor. Thus, new strategies for the treatment of cancer clearly will also have to target cancer stem cells. The goal of the present study was to determine whether pancreatic carcinoma cell growth may be driven by a subpopulation of cancer stem cells. Because previous data implicated ABCG2 and CD133 as stem cell markers in hematopoietic and neural stem/progenitor cells, we analyzed the expression of these two proteins in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.
Methods:
Five established pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines were analyzed. Total RNA was isolated and real-time RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of ABCG2 and CD133. Surface expression of ABCG2 and CD133 was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis.
Results:
All pancreatic carcinoma cell lines tested expressed significantly higher levels of ABCG2 than non-malignant fibroblasts or two other malignant non-pancreatic cell lines, i.e., SaOS2 osteosarcoma and SKOV3 ovarian cancer. Elevated CD133 expression was found in two out of five pancreatic carcinoma cell lines tested. Using flow cytometric analysis we confirmed surface expression of ABCG2 in all five lines. Yet, CD133 surface expression was detectable in the two cell lines, A818-6 and PancTu1, which exhibited higher mRNA levels.
Conclusions:
Two stem cell markers, ABCG2 and CD133 are expressed in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. ABCG2 and/or CD133 positive cells may represent subpopulation of putative cancer stem cells also in this malignancy. Because cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for tumor initiation and its recurrence after an initial response to chemotherapy, they may be a very promising target for new drug developments.
Insights
Pancreatic cancer stem cells may be targeted using ABCG2 and CD133 markers. Identifying these cancer stem cells is crucial for developing new pancreatic cancer treatments and preventing tumor recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death.
- Cancer stem cells may drive tumor growth and recurrence.
- Targeting cancer stem cells is essential for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if pancreatic carcinoma growth is driven by cancer stem cells.
- To analyze the expression of stem cell markers ABCG2 and CD133 in pancreatic cancer cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines.
- Real-time RT-PCR to quantify ABCG2 and CD133 mRNA expression.
- Flow cytometry to assess surface expression of ABCG2 and CD133.
Main Results:
- All tested pancreatic cancer cell lines showed significantly higher ABCG2 expression than control cells.
- Two of five cell lines exhibited elevated CD133 mRNA levels.
- Surface expression of ABCG2 was confirmed in all lines; CD133 surface expression was detected in two lines.
Conclusions:
- ABCG2 and CD133 are expressed in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.
- These markers may identify a subpopulation of cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer.
- Targeting ABCG2/CD133 positive cells offers a promising strategy for new pancreatic cancer drug development.
