OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of Notch1 signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: We performed immunocytochemistry on surgically resected NPC using antibodies against embryonic stem (ES) cell proteins and against Notch1 signaling components. RESULTS: We found that ES cell protein markers SOX2 and OCT4 were expressed in a subpopulation of cells for all three subtypes of NPC but barely in the normal control. Double immunostaining shows that SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells coexpressed proliferative markers, suggesting that human NPC may contain cancer stem-like cells. In addition, we found that Notch1 signaling was activated in NPC. Confocal images show that the Notch1 signaling activated form and Hes1, a downstream target of Notch1 signaling, was predominantly found in SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Notch1 signaling pathway might be a regulator of cancer stem-like cells in NPC.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of Notch1 signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: We performed immunocytochemistry on surgically resected NPC using antibodies against embryonic stem (ES) cell proteins and against Notch1 signaling components. RESULTS: We found that ES cell protein markers SOX2 and OCT4 were expressed in a subpopulation of cells for all three subtypes of NPC but barely in the normal control. Double immunostaining shows that SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells coexpressed proliferative markers, suggesting that human NPC may contain cancer stem-like cells. In addition, we found that Notch1 signaling was activated in NPC. Confocal images show that the Notch1 signaling activated form and Hes1, a downstream target of Notch1 signaling, was predominantly found in SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Notch1 signaling pathway might be a regulator of cancer stem-like cells in NPC.
Authors: J Nichols; B Zevnik; K Anastassiadis; H Niwa; D Klewe-Nebenius; I Chambers; H Schöler; A Smith Journal: Cell Date: 1998-10-30 Impact factor: 41.582
Authors: A W Lee; Y F Poon; W Foo; S C Law; F K Cheung; D K Chan; S Y Tung; M Thaw; J H Ho Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 1992 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: G Sanguineti; F B Geara; A S Garden; S L Tucker; K K Ang; W H Morrison; L J Peters Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 1997-03-15 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: H Kato; Y Taniguchi; H Kurooka; S Minoguchi; T Sakai; S Nomura-Okazaki; K Tamura; T Honjo Journal: Development Date: 1997-10 Impact factor: 6.868