CD20 positive cells are undetectable in the majority of multiple myeloma cell lines and are not associated with a cancer stem cell phenotype

Haematologica. 2012 Jul;97(7):1110-4. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2011.057372. Epub 2012 Feb 7.

Abstract

Although new therapies have doubled the survival of multiple myeloma patients, this remains an incurable disease. It has been postulated that the so-called myeloma cancer stem cells would be responsible for tumor initiation and relapse but their unequivocal identification remains unclear. Here, we investigated in a panel of myeloma cell lines the presence of CD20(+) cells harboring a stem-cell phenotype. Thus, only a small population of CD20(dim+) cells (0.3%) in the RPMI-8226 cell line was found. CD20(dim+) RPMI-8226 cells expressed the plasma cell markers CD38 and CD138 and were CD19(-)CD27(-). Additionally, CD20(dim+) RPMI-8226 cells did not exhibit stem-cell markers as shown by gene expression profiling and the aldehyde dehydrogenase assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CD20(dim+) RPMI-8226 cells are not essential for CB17-SCID mice engraftment and show lower self-renewal potential than the CD20(-) RPMI-8226 cells. These results do not support CD20 expression for the identification of myeloma cancer stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD20 / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD20
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase