Isolation and characterization of calcium sensing receptor null cells: A highly malignant and drug resistant phenotype of colon cancer

Abstract

The expression of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in the human colonic crypt epithelium is linked to cellular differentiation while its lack of expression is associated with undifferentiated and invasive colon carcinoma. Human colon carcinoma cell lines contain small subpopulations (10-20%) that do not express CaSR (termed CaSR null cells). Here, we report on the isolation, propagation, maintenance and characterization of CaSR null cells from the CBS and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell lines. CaSR null cells grew as three-dimensional non-adherent spherical clusters with increased propensity for anchorage independent growth, cellular proliferation and invasion of matrigels. CaSR null cells were highly resistant to fluorouracil and expressed abundant amount of thymidylate synthase and survivin. Molecular profiling by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots showed a high level of expression of the previously reported cancer stem cell markers CD133, CD44 and Nanog in CaSR null cells. A significant increase in the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transitional molecules and transcription factors was also observed. These include N-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin, fibronectin, Snail1, Snail2, Twist and FOXC2. The expression of the tumor suppressive E-cadherin and miR145, on the other hand, was greatly reduced while expression of the oncogenic microRNAs: miR21, miR135a and miR135b was significantly up-regulated. CaSR null cells possess a myriad of cellular and molecular features that drive and sustain the malignant phenotype. We conclude that CaSR null constitutes a highly malignant and drug resistant phenotype of colon cancer. What's new? Loss of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) expression in the colon is linked to malignant transformation and progression. This study is the first to report the isolation and molecular profiling of the CaSR null colon cancer phenotype. The findings show that CaSR null cells present a greater propensity for growth and invasion, possess many of the molecular features that drive and sustain the malignant phenotype, and are highly drug resistant. The authors conclude that the development of therapeutic regimens that encompass the efficient killing of CaSR null cells could improve the treatment outcome for colon cancer. Copyright © 2012 UICC.