Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
11:28
Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
Published on: May 11, 2016
9.0K
CFC1 is a cancer stemness-regulating factor in neuroblastoma
Koji Chikaraishi1,2, Hisanori Takenobu1,3, Ryuichi P Sugino1
1Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.
Oncotarget
|June 17, 2017
Summary
High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) recurrence is linked to cancer stem cells (CSCs). CFC1 promotes NB sphere formation and tumorigenesis, suggesting it as a therapeutic target for CSC-based treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Stem Cell Research
Background:
- High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients have poor survival rates despite aggressive treatment.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in NB recurrence and metastasis, often isolated as NB spheres.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CFC1 in neuroblastoma stemness and tumorigenesis.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for high-risk neuroblastoma.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression profiling of adherent versus sphere-forming NB cells.
- Lentiviral-mediated knockdown and overexpression of CFC1 in NB cell lines.
- Analysis of sphere formation, proliferation, soft agar colony formation, and xenograft tumor formation.
Main Results:
- CFC1 was highly expressed in sphere-forming NB cells and correlated with poor prognosis.
- CFC1 overexpression enhanced sphere formation, proliferation, and colony formation.
- CFC1 knockdown suppressed sphere and xenograft tumor formation, inhibiting Activin A-induced differentiation.
Conclusions:
- CFC1 plays a critical role in maintaining neuroblastoma stemness and promoting tumorigenesis.
- CFC1 is a potential therapeutic target for CSC-targeted therapy in neuroblastoma.
- CFC1's mechanism involves regulating differentiation pathways and EGF-CFC signaling.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
6.2K
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 are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
6.2K
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
4.2K
All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
4.2K
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
5.7K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
Somatic...
5.7K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
8.2K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
8.2K
01:18Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells
4.8K
A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
4.8K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
7.2K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
7.2K