EXPRESSION OF CANCER STEM CELLS SURFACE MARKERS IN TONGUE SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA CELL LINES

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) comprise subpopulation of tumor cells associated with cancer initiation, progression, and treatment failures found in several malignancies, including oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC). Currently, among the methods employed for detection and isolation of CSCs the most used is flow cytometry immunophenotyping. The expression of surface markers for CSCs in SCC-9 cells, derived from tongue OSCC, has not been described in the literature. Objective: To identify and compare the expression of cell surface markers associate to CSCs in the SCC9 ZsGreen and its metastatic derivative SCC9 ZsGreen LN1 cells. Methods: The CSC subpopulations in cultured SCC9 ZsGreen and SCC9 ZsGreen LN1 were identified by flow cytometry using the following surface markers: CD44 standard (and its isoforms, CD44 v3, and CD44 v6), CD133, CD326, CD24, and CD271. Results: SCC9 ZsGreen cells were significantly more positive for CD44, CD133, and CD271 while SCC9 ZsGreen LN1 expressed more CD326. The positivity for CD24 e CD44 v3 was also higher in SCC9 ZsGreen LN1, however, without statistical significance. Conclusions: The 2 OSCC cell lines presented distinct patterns of cancer stem cells surface markers. Further experiments will be needed to better characterize the CSCs populations present in SCC9 and SCC9 ZsGreen LN1 cell lines. (FAPESP 14/20832-3).