RNA sequencing of long-term label-retaining colon cancer stem cells identifies novel regulators of quiescence

RNA sequencing of long-term label-retaining colon cancer stem cells identifies novel regulators of quiescence

Blog Article

Summary: Recent data suggest that therapy-resistant quiescent cancer stem cells (qCSCs) are the source of relapse in colon cancer.Here, using Soft Doll colon cancer patient-derived organoids and xenografts, we identify rare long-term label-retaining qCSCs that can re-enter the cell cycle to generate new tumors.RNA sequencing analyses demonstrated that these cells display the molecular hallmarks of quiescent tissue stem cells, including expression of p53 signaling genes, and are enriched for transcripts common to damage-induced quiescent revival stem cells of the regenerating intestine.

In addition, we identify negative regulators of cell cycle, downstream of p53, Pre-Rolls that we show are indicators of poor prognosis and may be targeted for qCSC abolition in both p53 wild-type and mutant tumors.These data support the temporal inhibition of downstream targets of p53 signaling, in combination with standard-of-care treatments, for the elimination of qCSCs and prevention of relapse in colon cancer.