A distinct "side population" of cells with high drug efflux capacity in human tumor cells

C. Hirschmann-Jax, A. E. Foster, G. G. Wulf, J. G. Nuchtern, T. W. Jax, U. Gobel, M. A. Goodell, M. K. Brenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1170 Scopus citations

Abstract

A subset of stem cells, termed the "side population" (SP), has been identified in several tissues in mammalian species. These cells maintain a high efflux capability for antimitotic drugs. We have investigated whether functionally equivalent stem cells also may be detected in human cancers. We initially examined primary tumor cells from 23 patients with neuroblastoma and cell lines derived from a range of other tumors. A distinct SP was found in neuroblastoma cells from 15 of 23 patients (65%). The SP was capable of sustained expansion ex vivo and showed evidence for asymmetric division, generating both SP and non-SP progeny. These cells also expressed high levels of ABCG2 and ABCA3 transporter genes and had a greater capacity to expel cytotoxic drugs, such as mitoxantrone, resulting in better survival. A SP also was detected in breast cancer, lung cancer, and glioblastoma cell lines, suggesting that this phenotype defines a class of cancer stem cells with inherently high resistance to chemotherapeutic agents that should be targeted during the treatment of malignant disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14228-14233
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume101
Issue number39
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 28 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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