Open Access

Metformin reverses stem cell‑like HepG2 sphere formation and resistance to sorafenib by attenuating epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation

  • Authors:
    • Yan Feng
    • Xing Guo
    • Xinping Huang
    • Manya Wu
    • Xin Li
    • Shushu Wu
    • Xiaoling Luo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 3, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9348
  • Pages: 3866-3872
  • Copyright: © Feng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reported to be associated with the recurrence and drug resistance of liver cancer. In the present study, stem cell‑like HepG2 cell spheres were enriched using stem cell conditioned culture medium. As expected, stem‑like HepG2 cell spheres exhibited increased resistance to sorafenib. Metformin, a common drug used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, reduced the diameters and numbers of stem‑like HepG2 spheres, and increased their sensitivity to sorafenib. Western blotting confirmed that low doses of metformin reversed the epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process of HepG2 spheres. These results suggested that metformin enhanced sensitivity to sorafenib, which was probably through reversal of the EMT process of sphere‑forming cells and by reducing the formation of CSCs.
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October-2018
Volume 18 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Feng Y, Guo X, Huang X, Wu M, Li X, Wu S and Luo X: Metformin reverses stem cell‑like HepG2 sphere formation and resistance to sorafenib by attenuating epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation. Mol Med Rep 18: 3866-3872, 2018
APA
Feng, Y., Guo, X., Huang, X., Wu, M., Li, X., Wu, S., & Luo, X. (2018). Metformin reverses stem cell‑like HepG2 sphere formation and resistance to sorafenib by attenuating epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation. Molecular Medicine Reports, 18, 3866-3872. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9348
MLA
Feng, Y., Guo, X., Huang, X., Wu, M., Li, X., Wu, S., Luo, X."Metformin reverses stem cell‑like HepG2 sphere formation and resistance to sorafenib by attenuating epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation". Molecular Medicine Reports 18.4 (2018): 3866-3872.
Chicago
Feng, Y., Guo, X., Huang, X., Wu, M., Li, X., Wu, S., Luo, X."Metformin reverses stem cell‑like HepG2 sphere formation and resistance to sorafenib by attenuating epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation". Molecular Medicine Reports 18, no. 4 (2018): 3866-3872. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.9348