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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 4/2011

01-04-2011 | Translational Research and Biomarkers

Significance of Lgr5+ve Cancer Stem Cells in the Colon and Rectum

Authors: Hidekazu Takahashi, MD, Hideshi Ishii, MD, PhD, Naohiro Nishida, MD, Ichiro Takemasa, MD, PhD, Tsunekazu Mizushima, MD, PhD, Masataka Ikeda, MD, PhD, Takehiko Yokobori, MD, PhD, Koshi Mimori, MD, PhD, Hirofumi Yamamoto, MD, PhD, Mitsugu Sekimoto, MD, PhD, Yuichiro Doki, MD, PhD, FACS, Masaki Mori, MD, PhD, FACS

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Although recent studies show that leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5)+ve cells targeted by Wnt drive self-renewal in the skin and gastrointestinal organs, the clinicopathological significance of Lgr5+ve cancer stem cells (CSCs) of the colon remains to be elucidated.

Experimental Design

We studied the Wnt-targeted Lgr5 pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression of LGR5, c-MYC, p21CIP1/WAF1/CDKN1A, glutaminase (GLS), and miRs-23a and -23b (that target LGR5 and GLS) was evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The Lgr5 protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The clinical relevance of gene expression in terms of patient survival was also evaluated.

Results

Overexpression of LGR5 was significantly associated with expression of c-MYC, p21CIP1/WAF1/CDKN1A, and GLS (p < 0.0001), and inversely associated with miR-23a/b (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that Lgr5 may be embedded in benign adenomas, localized at the tumor–host interface, and detectable over a broad area in established tumors. High level of LGR5 expression was associated with poor prognosis for CRC cancer patients (disease-free survival; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study supports a significant role for LGR5 in the CSC hypothesis in CRC: (1) Lgr5+ve CSCs, presumably derived from normal stem cells in colonic crypts, proliferate, and the gene is overexpressed during CRC development; (2) LGR5 expression is associated with activation of Wnt pathway, including oncogenic c-MYC and high energy production via glutaminolysis; (3) LGR5 expression may be a poor prognostic factor for CRC patients. Further study of LGR5 should contribute to the development of CSC-based cancer therapeutics.
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Metadata
Title
Significance of Lgr5+ve Cancer Stem Cells in the Colon and Rectum
Authors
Hidekazu Takahashi, MD
Hideshi Ishii, MD, PhD
Naohiro Nishida, MD
Ichiro Takemasa, MD, PhD
Tsunekazu Mizushima, MD, PhD
Masataka Ikeda, MD, PhD
Takehiko Yokobori, MD, PhD
Koshi Mimori, MD, PhD
Hirofumi Yamamoto, MD, PhD
Mitsugu Sekimoto, MD, PhD
Yuichiro Doki, MD, PhD, FACS
Masaki Mori, MD, PhD, FACS
Publication date
01-04-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1373-9

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