Abstract B63: Cell surface vimentin (CSV) serves as markers and targets for EMT, stem cancer cell and metastatic cells

Abstract

Abstract The presence of cancer stem–like cells and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) cancer cells serves as one of the primary mechanisms for causing metastasis in cancer. However, there is no clear and universal cell surface markers for identifying these types of cells though multiple intracellular markers for EMT or non-universal markers for cancer stem cells are reported. A clear, functional and universal EMT and cancer stem cell marker will assist our understanding in cancer cell metastasis. Recently, we discovered that Vimentin, an intracellular EMT tumor cell marker, is present on the surface of circulating tumor cells and on the surface of colon metastatic tumor nodules in the liver. In this study, we examined the potential of using this marker as a capturing target to isolate EMT stem–like cancer cells using a cell surface Vim-binding antibody, 84-1, which was developed in-house. Using this antibody, we purified the csVim+CD133- cell population from primary liver and GBM tumor cell suspensions. Stem cell characterization assays demonstrated that csVim+CD133- cells have stem–like properties similar to the csVim-CD133+ population. This population also showed tumorigenicity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Moreover, csVim+CD133- cells stained with classical EMT markers Twist and Slug to validate their metastatic phenotypes. In vivo inoculation further revealed that the csVim+CD133- population supported EMT-like phenotypes and aggressive metastasis in livers as compared to the csVim-CD133+ population. In the era of personalized cancer therapy, this population should also be considered a promising target for the treatment and prevention of metastatic carcinoma. Citation Format: Abhisek Mitra, Hyangsoon Noh, Shulin Li. Cell surface vimentin (CSV) serves as markers and targets for EMT, stem cancer cell and metastatic cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B63.