Selective Inhibition of Esophageal Cancer Stem-like Cells with Salinomycin

Author(s):

Mahdi Zarei, Marie S. Jazi*, Mahboubeh Tajaldini, Ayyoob Khosravi and Jahanbakhsh Asadi   Pages 783 - 789 ( 7 )

Abstract:

<P>Background: Targeting Cancer Stem-Like Cells (CSLCs) can provide promising new therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer progression, metastasis and recurrence. Salinomycin (Sal), an antibacterial ionophore, has been shown to inhibit CSCs specifically. Recently, it has been reported that Sal can destabilize TAZ, the hypo pathway transducer in CSLCs. </P><P> Objectives: Here, in the current study, we aimed to assess the differential toxicity of Sal in esophageal CSLCs and its relation to TAZ gene expression. </P><P> Methods: The esophageal cancer cell line, KYSE-30, was used for the enrichment of CSLCs. The expression of TAZ was knocked down using specific siRNA transfection and then the cytotoxicity of Sal was measured using XTT assay. The qRT-PCR method was used for gene expression assessment and the sphere formation ability was monitored using light microscopy. </P><P> Results: Our findings showed that esophageal CSLCs over-express stemness-associated genes, including SOX2, OCT4 as well as TAZ (~14 fold, P value=0.02) transcription coactivator. We found Sal can selectively inhibit KYSE-30 CSLCs viability and sphere formation ability; however, TAZ knockdown does not change its differential toxicity. </P><P> Conclusion: Overall, our results indicated that Sal can selectively decrease the viability of esophageal CSLCs in a TAZ-independent manner.</P>

Keywords:

Salinomycin, esophageal cancer stem-like cell, selective toxicity, TAZ knockdown, CSLC, stemness.

Affiliation:

Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Department of Animal and Poultry Physiology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan

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