A tumor stem cell-specific marker identified by lineage tracing in the intestine
Seno, H.; Yamaga, Y.; Nakanishi, Y.; Chiba, T.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 73(5): 850-854
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 25985642 Document Number: 685751
Tumor therapies targeting tumor stem cells(TSCs) have been limited. One of the reasons is that TSC markers are often shared by normal stem cells (NSCs), and therapies targeting those marker-positive cells may cause severe injury to normal tissues. To solve the problem, we focused on doublecortin -like kinase 1 (Dclk1). In the normal intestines of Dclk1(creERT2/+); Rosa26(LacZ/+) mice, LacZ-labeled epithelial cells were scattered along villi after tamoxifen injection. In contrast, in Dclk1(creERT2/+); Rosa26(LacZ/+); Apc(Min/+) mice, intestinal tumors were occupied by LacZ-labeled tumor cells, and selective ablation of Dclk1-positive cells using iDTR system resulted in regression of intestinal tumors without apparent damage to the normal intestines. Thus, Dclk1 appeared to be a marker that discriminates TSCs from NSCs in the intestine.