CD24, CD44 and EpCAM enrich for tumour-initiating cells in a newly established patient-derived xenograft of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Author: Hoe S.L.L.; Tan L.P.; Abdul Aziz N.; Liew K.; Teow S.-Y.; Abdul Razak F.R.; Chin Y.M.; Mohamed Shahrehan N.A.; Chu T.L.; Mohd Kornain N.K.; Peh S.-C.; Koay C.E.; Lo K.-W.; Ahmad M.; Ng C.-C.; Khoo A.S.-B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2017
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030111011&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-017-12045-8&partnerID=40&md5=2157dcea8e84de26e7b653c4e14969a0

Subpopulations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) contain cells with differential tumourigenic properties. Our study evaluates the tumourigenic potential of CD24, CD44, EpCAM and combination of EpCAM/CD44 cells in NPC. CD44br and EpCAMbr cells enriched for higher S-phase cell content, faster-growing tumourigenic cells leading to tumours with larger volume and higher mitotic figures. Although CD44br and EpCAMbr cells significantly enriched for tumour-initiating cells (TICs), all cells could retain self-renewal property for at least four generations. Compared to CD44 marker alone, EpCAM/CD44dbr marker did not enhance for cells with faster-growing ability or higher TIC frequency. Cells expressing high CD44 or EpCAM had lower KLF4 and p21 in NPC subpopulations. KLF4-overexpressed EpCAMbr cells had slower growth while Kenpaullone inhibition of KLF4 transcription increased in vitro cell proliferation. Compared to non-NPC, NPC specimens had increased expression of EPCAM, of which tumours from advanced stage of NPC had higher expression. Together, our study provides evidence that EpCAM is a potentially important marker in NPC. © 2017 The Author(s).