Abstract 252: Molecular characterization of cancer stem cells isolated from primary colon cancer cells.
Authors: Lange Martin , Schumacher Dirk , Hauling Thomas , Regenbrecht Christian , Politz Oliver , Nilsson Mats , Hoffmann Jens , Schaefer Reinhold , Henderson David 
Published: August 2014

Colon cancer is the 3rd most common type of cancer and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. OncoTrack is an international consortium that has launched one of Europe's largest collaborative academic-industry research projects to develop and assess novel approaches for identification of new markers for colon cancer (1). To this end, colorectal tumors and metastases, as well as isolated circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells are subjected to high-throughput sequencing of DNA and RNA. The laboratory data are combined with clinical data and used for in silico modeling of the patients' tumors and prediction of biomarkers as well as a tailored therapy. These predictions are validated using patient-specific in vitro (primary cells) and in vivo (xenografts) models. Recent data show that a small subpopulation of cells within different tumors, including colon cancer, is responsible for tumor growth and maintenance. Due to their functional similarities to adult tissue stem cells and their likely origin, these cells have been termed cancer stem cells. We aim at characterizing patient-derived primary cell cultures and cancer stem cells isolated from these. Primary tumors and metastases from colon cancer patients are cultivated in vitro using a matrigel-based, serum-free culture system. This system allows for long-term expansion of primary colon cancer cells in vitro (2). Using this methodology, we were able to establish over 35 novel, patient-specific colon cancer cell lines, both from primary tumors and metastases. Using previously established markers of colon cancer stem cells (CD44+, CD133+, CD166+, EpCAM-high, Wnt-high), cells are sorted by flow cytometry and subsequently subjected to genome-wide analyses using next-generation sequencing. These experiments allow for a detailed characterization of colon cancer stem cells at the level of transcriptome and methylome. It has been shown that tumors are heterogeneous with regard to gene mutations and expression of cancer stem cell markers (3). Using molecular tools such as padlock probes (4), we are analyzing the distribution of gene mutations identified by next-generation sequencing within primary cells as well as primary tumors. Moreover, we are addressing the expression pattern of cancer stem cell markers in these cell types. These data will help in a better understanding of individual tumors and assist in design of a personalized therapy.

OncoTrack is a project funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (IMI JU).

1 Elsner M, Nature Biotechnology 29, 378 (2011); www.oncotrack.eu

2 Sato T el al., Gastroenterology. 2011 Nov;141(5):1762-72.

3 Gerlinger M et al., N Engl J Med. 2012 Mar 8;366(10):883-92.

4 Larsson C, et al., Nat Methods. 2010 May;7(5):395-7.

Citation Format: Martin Lange, Dirk Schumacher, Thomas Hauling, Christian Regenbrecht, Oliver Politz, Mats Nilsson, Jens Hoffmann, Reinhold Schaefer, David Henderson. Molecular characterization of cancer stem cells isolated from primary colon cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 252. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-252