Cryptotanshinone targets tumor-initiating cells through down-regulation of stemness genes expression

  • Authors:
    • Ying Zhang
    • Stephanie M. Cabarcas
    • Ji Zheng
    • Lei Sun
    • Lesley A. Mathews
    • Xiaohu Zhang
    • Hongsheng Lin
    • William L. Farrar
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 15, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4444
  • Pages: 3803-3812
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Abstract

Recent evidence indicates that tumor‑initiating cells (TICs), also called cancer stem cells (CSCs), are responsible for tumor initiation and progression, therefore representing an important cell population that may be used as a target for the development of future anticancer therapies. In the present study, Cryptotanshinone (CT), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was demonstrated to regulate the behaviors of LNCaP prostate cells and prostate LNCaP TICs. The results demonstrate that treatment with CT alters cellular proliferation, cell cycle status, migration, viability, colony formation and notably, sphere formation and down-regulation of stemness genes (Nanog, OCT4, SOX2, β-catenin, CXCR4) in TICs. The present study demonstrates that CT targets the LNCaP CD44+CD24‑ population that is representative of prostate TICs and also affects total LNCaP cells as well via down‑regulation of stemness genes. The strong effect with which CT has on prostate TICs suggests that CT may potentially function as a novel natural anticancer agent that specifically targets TICs.
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June-2016
Volume 11 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhang Y, Cabarcas SM, Zheng J, Sun L, Mathews LA, Zhang X, Lin H and Farrar WL: Cryptotanshinone targets tumor-initiating cells through down-regulation of stemness genes expression. Oncol Lett 11: 3803-3812, 2016
APA
Zhang, Y., Cabarcas, S.M., Zheng, J., Sun, L., Mathews, L.A., Zhang, X. ... Farrar, W.L. (2016). Cryptotanshinone targets tumor-initiating cells through down-regulation of stemness genes expression. Oncology Letters, 11, 3803-3812. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4444
MLA
Zhang, Y., Cabarcas, S. M., Zheng, J., Sun, L., Mathews, L. A., Zhang, X., Lin, H., Farrar, W. L."Cryptotanshinone targets tumor-initiating cells through down-regulation of stemness genes expression". Oncology Letters 11.6 (2016): 3803-3812.
Chicago
Zhang, Y., Cabarcas, S. M., Zheng, J., Sun, L., Mathews, L. A., Zhang, X., Lin, H., Farrar, W. L."Cryptotanshinone targets tumor-initiating cells through down-regulation of stemness genes expression". Oncology Letters 11, no. 6 (2016): 3803-3812. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4444