Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (10): 1426-1432.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.10.008

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in transformation of gastric cancer cells SGC7901 to gastric cancer stem cells

Xing Hui-jun1, Zhao Yan-jun2, Hou Lei1, Sun Yong1, Liu Peng1, Li Chun-hui3   

  1. 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2Department of Emergency, 3Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
  • Received:2016-01-12 Online:2016-03-04 Published:2016-03-04
  • Contact: Zhao Yan-jun, Master, Associate chief physician, Department of Emergency, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
  • About author:Xing Hui-jun, Master, Associate chief physician, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the Medical Science Research Project of Hebei Province, No. ZL20140103

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies have found that epithelial-mesenchymal transition is closely related with tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, but studies on the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the transformation process of gastric cancer cells SGC7901 to gastric cancer stem-like cells are rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the transformation process of gastric cancer cells SGC7901 to gastric cancer stem-like cells.
METHODS: Vincristine-induced SGC7901 cells were cultured and screened to prepare gastric cancer stem-like cells. CD44 phenotype, morphological changes, stem cell-related markers, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition related molecules were detected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After passage, vincristine-induced SGC7901 cells presented with morphological changes, and clonal cell spheres generated after serum-free suspension culture. Meanwhile, the proportion of SGC7901 cells positive for CD44 was decreased. Expression levels of SOX2, OCT4, Snail1 mRNA, Twist mRNA and Vimentin mRNA were significantly higher in the gastric cancer stem-like cells than SGC7901 cells, but the expression level of E-caderin was lower in the gastric cancer stem-like cells than SGC7901 cells. These findings indicate that gastric cancer cells SGC7901 can be successfully transformed into gastric cancer stem-like cells, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition is involved in this transforming progress.