Cancer Stem Cell Biomarker Specific Antibody Products

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been discovered in many human tumors, which were first identified in acute myeloid leukemia and later in glioblastoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. Targeting CSCs could be a promising strategy to improve cancer therapy outcomes and identifying biomarkers of CSCs is essential for the future development of antibody-based CSC therapies. Creative Biolabs has developed a wide range of anti-CSC biomarker antibodies to facilitate CSC research and investigation, which can lead to more effective methods for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment related researches. Bispecific antibodies recognizing cancer stem cell (CSC) markers and tumor antigens could improve the specificity of CSC targeting. Using combinations of anti-CSC biomarker antibodies may help to eradicate the entire tumor, including the resilient CSC population, thereby preventing relapses - a strategy that has shown clinical promise. If you have any needs related to CSCs, please contact us.

Fig. 1 Surface biomarkers, signaling pathways, and therapeutic strategies to target breast cancer stem cells.¹

Characteristics of CSCs

• CSCs exhibit enhanced migratory abilities, increased motility, and invasive properties.
• CSCs express unique cell surface markers, which allow them to be differentiated from other tumor cells.
• CSCs play a crucial role in tumor initiation, development, and metastasis.
• CSCs possess self-renewal capabilities and can regenerate into a subset of cells that exhibit abnormal differentiation.
• CSCs show resistance to conventional therapies, including radiation, hormones, cytokines, and chemotherapy.

Biomarkers on CSCs

CD44

CD44 is a highly glycosylated and type-I transmembrane p-glycoprotein, approximately 90 kDa. As a cell-surface receptor for extracellular matrix proteins, CD44 is one of the most well-established and widely recognized CSC markers. CD44 plays various roles in cell signaling, including the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, survival, migration, and differentiation. Following the discovery and characterization of CSCs, anti-CD44 antibody therapy has emerged as a primary anti-CSC strategy. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), anti-CD44 antibodies such as H90 and A3D8 have been shown to promote the terminal differentiation of AML blasts, inhibit their proliferation by stabilizing p27 and induce apoptosis. In head and neck cancer, monoclonal antibodies and immunoconjugates targeting a splice variant of CD44, known as CD44v6, were employed even before the significance of CD44 as a CSC marker was fully understood.

CD133

CD133 is a highly glycosylated, five-span transmembrane protein that features an extracellular N-terminal domain, five transmembrane segments, two large extracellular loops, and an intracellular C-terminal domain. Initially identified in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), CD133 serves as a key marker for identifying cancer stem cell (CSC) populations across a variety of solid tumor types, including colon, prostate, brain, lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ovarian cancer. The monoclonal antibody AC133 targets CD133 protein EC3 region and an immunoconjugate of the AC133 antibody coupled with a highly potent cytotoxic drug has been developed and has shown to delay tumor growth in in vivo assays.

EpCAM

EpCAM is a type I single-span transmembrane protein that contains a large extracellular domain and two EGF-like repeats. It is a highly and frequently expressed tumor-associated antigen, found in a wide range of epithelial cancers. Consequently, EpCAM is considered an important target for tumor therapy. The anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibody edrecolomab was the first approved mAb for colorectal cancer treatment. Additionally, another monoclonal antibody, ING1, demonstrated tumor suppression in preclinical studies for colon and prostate cancer.

CD24

CD24, also known as Heat Stable Antigen (HSA), is a mucin-like protein that is heavily glycosylated and made up of 31 amino acids. It plays a crucial role in cell selection and maturation during embryonic development and hematopoiesis. As a potential biomarker for cancer stem cells (CSCs), CD24 is considered an oncogene and is expressed in a wide range of human malignancies, particularly solid tumors. Consequently, CD24 has been identified as a significant CSC marker for diagnosing and prognosticating certain solid cancers and has been evaluated for targeted therapies in recent years. The anti-CD24 blocking antibodies can inhibit the growth of human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro.

Reference

1. Landeros, Natalia, Iván Castillo, and Ramón Pérez-Castro. "Preclinical and clinical trials of new treatment strategies targeting cancer stem cells in subtypes of breast cancer." Cells 12.5 (2023): 720. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.

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