Stem Cells International (Jan 2020)

Bmi1 Severs as a Potential Tumor-Initiating Cell Marker and Therapeutic Target in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Xiaochen Wang,
  • Kang Li,
  • Maosheng Cheng,
  • Ganping Wang,
  • Hui Han,
  • Fangfang Chen,
  • Wenjing Liao,
  • Zhi Chen,
  • Jianwen Chen,
  • Yong Bao,
  • Liang Peng,
  • Demeng Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8877577
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2020

Abstract

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Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a frequent malignant tumor with low 5-year overall survival. Targeting ESCC tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may provide a new research avenue to achieve better therapeutic effects of ESCC. However, the identity and characteristics of ESCC TICs remain poorly understood. Through genetic lineage tracing approach, we found that a group of Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1- (Bmi1-) expressing cell populations present in the invasive front of the esophageal epithelium, providing a continuous flow of tumor cells for ESCC. Subsequently, we found that ablation of Bmi1+ cells from mice with ESCC led to inhibition of tumor growth. In addition, our results demonstrated that PTC-209, an inhibitor of Bmi1, was able to inhibit ESCC progression when combined with cisplatin. In summary, our data suggest that Bmi1+ cells serve as TICs in ESCC.