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Fluorouracil selectively enriches stem-like cells in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC

Tumor Biology volume 34, pages 1503–1510 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Most adult stem cells are in the G0 or quiescent phase of the cell cycle and account for only a small percentage of the cells in the tissue. Thus, isolation of stem cells from tissues for further study represents a major challenge. This study sought to enrich cancer stem cells and explore cancer stem-like cell clones using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line, SPC. Proliferation inhibition was analyzed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, according to which half maximal inhibitory concentration values were calculated. Expression levels of stem cell markers after treatment with 5-FU were examined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Additionally, side population (SP) cells were sorted using FACS. Properties of SP cells were evaluated by using Transwell, colony-forming assays, and tumor formation experiments. 5-FU greatly inhibits proliferation, especially of cells in S phase. SP cells possess greater invasive potential, higher clone-forming potential, and greater tumor-forming ability than non-SP cells. Treatment with 5-FU enriches the SP cells with stem cell properties in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 30972966 to X. S. Jia).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China

    Mu-mu Shi, Yan-lei Xiong, Xin-shan Jia, Xin Li, Xiao-lei Li & En-Hua Wang

  2. Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China

    Mu-mu Shi, Yan-lei Xiong, Xin-shan Jia, Xin Li, Xiao-lei Li & En-Hua Wang

  3. Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Haerbin Medical University, Haerbin, China

    Mu-mu Shi

  4. Department of Pharmacology, College of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China

    Xin Li

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201-1559, USA

    Li Zhang

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  1. Mu-mu Shi
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  2. Yan-lei Xiong
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  5. Li Zhang
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Correspondence to Xin-shan Jia.

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Shi, Mm., Xiong, Yl., Jia, Xs. et al. Fluorouracil selectively enriches stem-like cells in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC. Tumor Biol. 34, 1503–1510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-0675-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-0675-5

Keywords

  • Cancer stem cells
  • Lung adenocarcinoma cell
  • 5-Fluorouracil
  • Side population (SP) cells