Method for Identifying Cancer Stem Cells

描述（由申请人提供）：几项体外和体内研究表明，干细胞标志物在不同肿瘤类型的癌细胞中是共有的，包括乳腺癌中的CD44和脑癌中的CD133。也有理论认为癌症干细胞过度表达血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）。使用抗体标记从患者标本中获得的胶质瘤中的癌症干细胞，研究人员发现干细胞样癌细胞表达的VEGF水平比非致瘤性胶质瘤细胞高20倍。在I期研究中，我们建议开发一种新的、多参数的、基于流式细胞术的检测方法，以同时检测封装在琼脂糖凝胶微滴（GMD）基质中的单个活的癌症干细胞上的CD44和CD24表面标志物表达和VEGF分泌水平。公共卫生相关性：在这项研究中，我们将开发一种新的，多参数，流式细胞术为基础的测定，同时检测表面标志物的表达和VEGF分泌的单一，活的癌症干细胞封装在琼脂糖凝胶微滴矩阵。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Several in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that stem cell markers are shared by cancer cells in different tumor types, including CD44 in breast cancer and CD133 in brain cancer. It has also been theorized that cancer stem cells over-express vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF). Using an antibody to mark cancer stem cells in gliomas obtained from patient specimens, investigators found that stem cell-like cancer cells expressed VEGF at a level 20 fold higher than non-tumorigenic glioma cells. In Phase I research, we propose to develop a novel, multiparameter, flow cytometry based assay to simultaneously detect CD44 and CD24 surface marker expression and level of VEGF secretion on single, viable cancer stem cells encapsulated in an agarose Gel Microdrop (GMD) matrix. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this research, we will develop a novel, multiparameter, flow cytometry based assay to simultaneously detect surface marker expression and VEGF secretion on single, viable cancer stem cells encapsulated in an agarose Gel Microdrop matrix.