Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer

The presence of cancer stem cells is linked to aggressive disease and higher risk of recurrence, and multiple markers have been proposed to detect cancer stem cells. However, a detailed evaluation of the expression patterns and the prognostic value of markers relevant for endometrial cancer is lacki...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hilde E. Lien, Marta E. Hjelmeland, Hege F. Berg, Rose M. Gold, Kathrine Woie, Lars A. Akslen, Ingfrid S. Haldorsen, Camilla Krakstad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Molecular Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13815
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850161331771015168
author Hilde E. Lien
Marta E. Hjelmeland
Hege F. Berg
Rose M. Gold
Kathrine Woie
Lars A. Akslen
Ingfrid S. Haldorsen
Camilla Krakstad
author_facet Hilde E. Lien
Marta E. Hjelmeland
Hege F. Berg
Rose M. Gold
Kathrine Woie
Lars A. Akslen
Ingfrid S. Haldorsen
Camilla Krakstad
author_sort Hilde E. Lien
collection DOAJ
description The presence of cancer stem cells is linked to aggressive disease and higher risk of recurrence, and multiple markers have been proposed to detect cancer stem cells. However, a detailed evaluation of the expression patterns and the prognostic value of markers relevant for endometrial cancer is lacking. As organoid models are suggested to be enriched in cancer stem cells, such models may prove valuable to define tissue‐specific cancer stem cells. To address this, imaging mass cytometry and multiplex single‐cell analyses were performed on an endometrial cancer patient series including both tumor biopsies and corresponding patient‐derived organoids. An antibody panel focused on cancer stem cell markers was used to identify cancer stem cell phenotypes. Over 70% of epithelial cells in the tumor biopsies expressed at least one putative cancer stem cell marker. We identified distinct cancer cell phenotypes with heterogeneous expression within individual patients and between patient samples. Few differences in the distribution of cancer cell phenotypes were observed between tumor biopsies and corresponding organoids. Cells expressing aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) were more prevalent in high‐grade tumors, while expression of CD44 was more prevalent in grade 1 tumors. Spatial analysis revealed significantly less interaction between ALDH1‐ and CD44‐expressing cells. Gene expression data was used to further investigate selected markers. CD44 gene expression was associated with a favorable prognosis and was further validated using immunohistochemistry. High expression of CD44 was significantly associated with better survival. The general high expression of proposed stem cell markers may indicate alternative roles for these in endometrial cancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-eab5a6dce1bf4e19b549225ff03bf3b0
institution OA Journals
issn 1574-7891
1878-0261
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Molecular Oncology
spelling doaj-art-eab5a6dce1bf4e19b549225ff03bf3b02025-08-20T02:22:54ZengWileyMolecular Oncology1574-78911878-02612025-06-011961651166710.1002/1878-0261.13815Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancerHilde E. Lien0Marta E. Hjelmeland1Hege F. Berg2Rose M. Gold3Kathrine Woie4Lars A. Akslen5Ingfrid S. Haldorsen6Camilla Krakstad7Department of Clinical Science, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Science, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Science, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Science, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayDepartment of Radiology, Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre Haukeland University Hospital Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Science, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO University of Bergen NorwayThe presence of cancer stem cells is linked to aggressive disease and higher risk of recurrence, and multiple markers have been proposed to detect cancer stem cells. However, a detailed evaluation of the expression patterns and the prognostic value of markers relevant for endometrial cancer is lacking. As organoid models are suggested to be enriched in cancer stem cells, such models may prove valuable to define tissue‐specific cancer stem cells. To address this, imaging mass cytometry and multiplex single‐cell analyses were performed on an endometrial cancer patient series including both tumor biopsies and corresponding patient‐derived organoids. An antibody panel focused on cancer stem cell markers was used to identify cancer stem cell phenotypes. Over 70% of epithelial cells in the tumor biopsies expressed at least one putative cancer stem cell marker. We identified distinct cancer cell phenotypes with heterogeneous expression within individual patients and between patient samples. Few differences in the distribution of cancer cell phenotypes were observed between tumor biopsies and corresponding organoids. Cells expressing aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) were more prevalent in high‐grade tumors, while expression of CD44 was more prevalent in grade 1 tumors. Spatial analysis revealed significantly less interaction between ALDH1‐ and CD44‐expressing cells. Gene expression data was used to further investigate selected markers. CD44 gene expression was associated with a favorable prognosis and was further validated using immunohistochemistry. High expression of CD44 was significantly associated with better survival. The general high expression of proposed stem cell markers may indicate alternative roles for these in endometrial cancer.https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13815cancer stem cellsendometrial cancerimaging mass cytometrypatient‐derived organoidssingle celltumor heterogeneity
spellingShingle Hilde E. Lien
Marta E. Hjelmeland
Hege F. Berg
Rose M. Gold
Kathrine Woie
Lars A. Akslen
Ingfrid S. Haldorsen
Camilla Krakstad
Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
Molecular Oncology
cancer stem cells
endometrial cancer
imaging mass cytometry
patient‐derived organoids
single cell
tumor heterogeneity
title Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
title_full Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
title_fullStr Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
title_full_unstemmed Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
title_short Multiplex single‐cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers ALDH1, SOX9, SOX2, CD44, CD133 and CD15 in endometrial cancer
title_sort multiplex single cell profiling of putative cancer stem cell markers aldh1 sox9 sox2 cd44 cd133 and cd15 in endometrial cancer
topic cancer stem cells
endometrial cancer
imaging mass cytometry
patient‐derived organoids
single cell
tumor heterogeneity
url https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13815
work_keys_str_mv AT hildeelien multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT martaehjelmeland multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT hegefberg multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT rosemgold multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT kathrinewoie multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT larsaakslen multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT ingfridshaldorsen multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer
AT camillakrakstad multiplexsinglecellprofilingofputativecancerstemcellmarkersaldh1sox9sox2cd44cd133andcd15inendometrialcancer