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Cancer Stem Cells
Phosphosulindac (OXT-328) Selectively Targets Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro and in Human Breast Cancer Xenografts†‡§
Article first published online: 20 SEP 2012
DOI: 10.1002/stem.1139
Copyright © 2012 AlphaMed Press
Additional Information
How to Cite
Zhu, C., Cheng, K.-W., Ouyang, N., Huang, L., Sun, Y., Constantinides, P. and Rigas, B. (2012), Phosphosulindac (OXT-328) Selectively Targets Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro and in Human Breast Cancer Xenografts. STEM CELLS, 30: 2065–2075. doi: 10.1002/stem.1139
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Author contributions: C.Z.: collection and/or assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval of manuscript; K.W.C., N.O., L.H., and Y.S.: design, collection and/or assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval of manuscript; P.C.C.: provision of study material and final approval of manuscript; B.R.: conception and design, financial support, provision of study material, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval of manuscript.
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Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
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First published online in STEM CELLSEXPRESS May 31, 2012.
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 SEP 2012
- Article first published online: 20 SEP 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 31 MAY 2012 10:34AM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 9 MAY 2012
- Manuscript Received: 14 DEC 2011
Funded by
- National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute. Grant Number: R01CA139454
- Department of Defense. Grant Number: W81XWH1010873
Keywords:
- Cancer stem cells;
- Phosphosulindac;
- Wnt/β-catenin;
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition;
- Breast cancer
Abstract
Pharmacological targeting of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) is highly promising for the treatment of breast cancer, as the small population of CSCs appears responsible for tumor initiation and progression and also for resistance to conventional treatment. Here we report that the novel phosphosulindac (OXT-328, PS) selectively and effectively eliminates breast CSCs both in vitro and in vivo. PS reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in various breast CSCs. Breast CSCs are resistant to conventional cancer drugs but are sensitive to PS. Long-term treatment of mixtures of cultured breast CSCs and breast cancer cells with PS preferentially eliminated the CSCs. PS impaired the ability of CSCs to form mammospheres and markedly suppressed the expression of CSC-related genes. More importantly, PS prevented by half (p =.06) the formation of tumors initiated by CSCs in immunodeficient mice, and inhibited by 83% (p <.05) the growth of already formed breast cancer xenografts, reducing the proportion of CSCs in them. PS suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by stimulating the degradation of β-catenin and its relocalization to the cell membrane and also blocked the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and the generation of breast CSCs. These results indicate that PS has a strong inhibitory effect against breast cancer, acting, at least in part, by targeting CSCs through a signaling mechanism involving Wnt signaling. STEM Cells2012;30:2065–2075