Secreted Frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) chemo-sensitizes cancer stem cells derived from human breast, prostate, and ovary tumor cell lines

Sci Rep. 2017 May 23;7(1):2256. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02256-4.

Abstract

This study investigated molecular signals essential to sustain cancer stem cells (CSCs) and assessed their activity in the presence of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. SFRP4 is a known Wnt antagonist, and is also pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic. Additionally, sFRP4 has been demonstrated to confer chemo-sensitization and improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. CSCs were isolated from breast, prostate, and ovary tumor cell lines, and characterized using tumor-specific markers such as CD44+/CD24-/CD133+. The post-transcription data from CSCs that have undergone combinatorial treatment with sFRP4 and chemotherapeutic drugs suggest downregulation of stemness genes and upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers. The post-translational modification of CSCs demonstrated a chemo-sensitization effect of sFRP4 when used in combination with tumor-specific drugs. SFRP4 in combination with doxorubicin/cisplatin reduced the proliferative capacity of the CSC population in vitro. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is important for proliferation and self-renewal of CSCs in association with human tumorigenesis. The silencing of this signaling pathway by the application of sFRP4 suggests potential for improved in vivo chemo-responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biomarkers
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • SFRP4 protein, human
  • Doxorubicin
  • Caspase 3
  • Cisplatin