Abstract
High hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2alpha) protein levels predict poor outcome in neuroblastoma, and hypoxia dedifferentiates cultured neuroblastoma cells toward a neural crest-like phenotype. Here, we identify HIF-2alpha as a marker of normoxic neural crest-like neuroblastoma tumor-initiating/stem cells (TICs) isolated from patient bone marrows. Knockdown of HIF-2alpha reduced VEGF expression and induced partial sympathetic neuronal differentiation when these TICs were grown in vitro under stem cell-promoting conditions. Xenograft tumors of HIF-2alpha-silenced cells were widely necrotic, poorly vascularized, and resembled the bulk of tumor cells in clinical neuroblastomas by expressing additional sympathetic neuronal markers, whereas control tumors were immature, well-vascularized, and stroma-rich. Thus, HIF-2alpha maintains an undifferentiated state of neuroblastoma TICs. Because low differentiation is associated with poor outcome and angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth, HIF-2alpha is an attractive target for neuroblastoma therapy.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Vol/bind | 106 |
Udgave nummer | 39 |
Sider (fra-til) | 16805-10 |
Antal sider | 6 |
ISSN | 0027-8424 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 29 sep. 2009 |
Udgivet eksternt | Ja |