Bmi1 Severs as a Potential Tumor-Initiating Cell Marker and Therapeutic Target in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Main Authors: Xiaochen Wang, Kang Li, Maosheng Cheng, Ganping Wang, Hui Han, Fangfang Chen, Wenjing Liao, Zhi Chen, Jianwen Chen, Yong Bao, Liang Peng, Demeng Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2020-01-01
• Series: Stem Cells International
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8877577

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a frequent malignant tumor with low 5-year overall survival. Targeting ESCC tumor-initiating cells (TICs) may provide a new research avenue to achieve better therapeutic effects of ESCC. However, the identity and characteristics of ESCC TICs remain poorly understood. Through genetic lineage tracing approach, we found that a group of Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1- (Bmi1-) expressing cell populations present in the invasive front of the esophageal epithelium, providing a continuous flow of tumor cells for ESCC. Subsequently, we found that ablation of Bmi1+ cells from mice with ESCC led to inhibition of tumor growth. In addition, our results demonstrated that PTC-209, an inhibitor of Bmi1, was able to inhibit ESCC progression when combined with cisplatin. In summary, our data suggest that Bmi1+ cells serve as TICs in ESCC.