Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Published on: October 2, 2020

Retinoid signaling regulates breast cancer stem cell differentiation

Christophe Ginestier1, Julien Wicinski, Nathalie Cervera

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 Inserm/Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseilles, France. christophe.ginestier@inserm.fr

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|October 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor growth. This study reveals retinoid signaling regulates breast CSCs self-renewal and differentiation, offering new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis suggests targeting CSCs is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
  • Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) enzymatic activity, measured by the ALDELFUOR assay, identifies normal and malignant breast stem cells.
  • Understanding pathways regulating CSCs is key to developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of retinoid signaling in regulating breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) self-renewal and differentiation.
  • To identify specific gene sets and pathways associated with retinoid signaling in breast CSCs.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of inhibiting these retinoid signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a tumorsphere assay to assess breast CSCs self-renewal and differentiation.
  • Employed the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) algorithm to identify relevant gene sets and pathways.
  • Leveraged ALDH1 enzymatic activity and the ALDELFUOR assay for CSC identification.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that retinoid signaling significantly regulates the self-renewal and differentiation of breast CSCs.
  • Identified specific gene sets and pathways linked to retinoid signaling through GSEA.
  • Highlighted the potential of targeting these pathways for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Retinoid signaling plays a critical role in breast CSC biology.
  • Inhibiting retinoid signaling pathways presents a promising therapeutic strategy for targeting breast CSCs.
  • This research contributes to the development of novel, targeted cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells13:38

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

Related Concept Videos

The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...