Tumor-initiating cells and methods for using same
AssigneeWyeth
InventorsMarc Isaac Damelin, Kenneth G, Geles, Jonathon P. Golas, Erwin Boghaert, Bin-Bings S. Zhou
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Abstract
Isolated and enriched tumor-initiating cell populations, methods for preparing the same, and uses thereof.
Claims20
An isolated tumor-initiating cell population derived from a tumor cell population comprising at least 90% tumor-initiating cells, wherein the tumor-initiating cells (i) express 5T4 at a level that is at least 2-fold higher than non-tumorigenic cells of the same origin, (ii) are tumorigenic, (iii) are capable of migration, (iv) are capable of self-renewal, and (v) generate tumors comprising non-tumorigenic cells,
An enriched tumor-initiating cell population derived from a tumor cell population comprising tumor-initiating cells and non-tumorigenic cells, wherein the tumor-initiating cells (i) express 5T4 at a level that is at least 2-fold higher than non-tumorigenic cells of the same origin, (ii) are tumorigenic, (iii) are capable of migration, (iv) are capable of self-renewal, (v) generate tumors comprising non-tumorigenic cells, and (vi) are enriched at least 2-fold compared to the tumor cell population.
A method of isolating or enriching a tumor-initiating cell population comprising:
- (a) providing dissociated tumor cells, wherein a majority of the cells express 5T4 at a low level and a minority of the cells express 5T4 at a high level;
- (b) contacting the dissociated tumor cells with an agent that specifically binds to 5T4, such as an anti-5T4 antibody;
- and
- (c) selecting cells that specifically bind to the agent of (b) to an extent that shows a high level of 5T4 expression that is at least about 2-fold greater than the low level;
- whereby a tumor-initiating cell population is isolated or enriched.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.