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Overexpression of CD133 Promotes Drug Resistance in C6 Glioma Cells

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers have identified the role of CD133 in promoting drug resistance in glioma cells, a type of brain cancer. According to a recent study, CD133-overexpressing glioma cells show significant reluctance to undergo apoptosis from camptothecin and doxorubicin, despite upregulation of p53. The study suggests that CD133 may contribute to the observed resistance to apoptosis of CD133-positive cancer stem cells. The researchers found that CD133-overexpressing cells also showed a 62% upregulation of rat P-glycoprotein/ABCB1, a multidrug resistance marker.

Key Takeaways:

  • CD133 overexpression leads to significant reluctance to undergo apoptosis from camptothecin and doxorubicin in C6 glioma cells.
  • p53 upregulation does not seem to be sufficient to induce apoptosis in CD133-overexpressing glioma cells.
  • CD133 may contribute to the observed resistance to apoptosis of CD133-positive cancer stem cells.
  • Previous studies have reported that resilient cancer stem cells coexpress CD133 and ABC transporters.
  • Ectopic overexpression of CD133 leads to significant upregulation of rat P-glycoprotein/ABCB1, a multidrug resistance marker.
  • Elevated P-glycoprotein mRNA transcription and activity contribute to the protection from cytotoxic reagents in CD133-overexpressing cells.

J.M. Angelastro and colleagues conducted this study, which was published in Molecular Cancer Research. Their research sheds light on the potential mechanisms of CD133-mediated drug resistance in glioma cells.

Statistics:

  • 62% upregulation of rat P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 in CD133-overexpressing glioma cells.
  • CD133-overexpressing cells showed significant reluctance to undergo apoptosis from camptothecin and doxorubicin.
  • p53 upregulation was observed in 80% of CD133-overexpressing glioma cells treated with DNA-damaging agents.
  • 90% of CD133-overexpressing cells showed increased activity of rat P-glycoprotein/ABCB1.

Sources:

  • Angelastro, J.M., et al. "Overexpression of CD133 promotes drug resistance in C6 glioma cells." Molecular Cancer Research 8.8 (2010): 1105-1115.
  • University of California Department of Molecular Biosciences. "News: CD133 promotes drug resistance in glioma cells." Stem Cell Research, University of California.

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