A stem cell gene expression profile of human squamous cell carcinomas

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearch

To investigate the relationship between stem cells in normal epithelium and in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), we examined expression of a panel of human epidermal stem cell markers in SCCs and SCC cell lines. Markers that are co-expressed in normal stem cells were not co-expressed in SCC. Downregulation of two markers, Lrig1 and MAP4, and upregulation of a third, MCSP, correlated with poor differentiation status and increased proliferation in primary tumours. We conclude that SCCs do not reflect a simple expansion of stem cells; rather, tumour cells hijack the homeostatic controls that operate in normal stem cells, eliminating those that maintain stem cell quiescence.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Letters
Volume272
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)23-31
Number of pages9
ISSN0304-3835
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Cell Differentiation, Cell Division, Cell Line, Tumor, Foreskin, GTP-Binding Proteins, Gene Expression Profiling, Genetic Markers, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Infant, Newborn, Keratinocytes, Male, Mouth Mucosa, Mouth Neoplasms, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Neoplasm, Skin, Stem Cells

ID: 94415277