Downregulation of miRNA-200c Links Breast Cancer Stem Cells with Normal Stem Cells CELL Shimono, Y., Zabala, M., Cho, R. W., Lobo, N., Dalerba, P., Qian, D., Diehn, M., Liu, H., Panula, S. P., Chiao, E., Dirbas, F. M., Somlo, G., Pera, R. A., Lao, K., Clarke, M. F. 2009; 138 (3): 592-603

Abstract

Human breast tumors contain a breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) population with properties reminiscent of normal stem cells. We found 37 microRNAs that were differentially expressed between human BCSCs and nontumorigenic cancer cells. Three clusters, miR-200c-141, miR-200b-200a-429, and miR-183-96-182 were downregulated in human BCSCs, normal human and murine mammary stem/progenitor cells, and embryonal carcinoma cells. Expression of BMI1, a known regulator of stem cell self-renewal, was modulated by miR-200c. miR-200c inhibited the clonal expansion of breast cancer cells and suppressed the growth of embryonal carcinoma cells in vitro. Most importantly, miR-200c strongly suppressed the ability of normal mammary stem cells to form mammary ducts and tumor formation driven by human BCSCs in vivo. The coordinated downregulation of three microRNA clusters and the similar functional regulation of clonal expansion by miR-200c provide a molecular link that connects BCSCs with normal stem cells.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2009.07.011

View details for Web of Science ID 000268771900022

View details for PubMedID 19665978

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2731699