Progestin treatment decreases CD133 + cancer stem cell populations in endometrial cancer

• CD133 + cells are identified in endometrial cancer cell lines and patient samples.
• Hormonal treatment with progestins decreases CD133 + cells in vitro and in patient samples from a clinical project.

ObjectivesEndometrial cancer is a hormonally responsive malignancy. Response to progestins is associated with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status. CD133 is a marker of endometrial cancer stem cells. We postulated that CD133 + cells express ER and PR and that progestin therapy differentially regulates CD133 + cells.MethodsThe Ishikawa (ER/PR positive) and KLE (ER/PR negative) cell lines were examined for the presence of CD133 populations. Cell lines were treated with 30.4 μM medroxyprogesterone 17-acetate (MPA) for 6 days. After treatment, cell counts, apoptosis assays and CD133 + populations were examined. In a clinical project, we identified 12 endometrial cancer patients who were treated with progestin drugs at our institution. Using immunohistochemistry, CD133, ER, PR, and androgen receptor (AR) expression was scored and evaluated for change over time on serial biopsies.ResultsCD133 + populations were identified in Ishikawa and KLE cell lines. MPA treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the percentage of live cells (Ishikawa, P = 0.036; KLE, P = 0.0002), significant increase in apoptosis (Ishikawa, P = 0.01; KLE, P = 0.0006) and significant decrease in CD133 + populations (Ishikawa, P < 0.0001; KLE, P = 0.0001). ER, PR, AR and CD133 were present in 96.4%, 96.4%, 89.3% and 100% of patient samples respectively. Paralleling the in vitro results, CD133 expression decreased in patients who had histologic response to progestin treatment.ConclusionCD133 + populations decreased after treatment with MPA in an in vitro model and in patients responding to treatment with progestins. Progestin treatment differentially decreases CD133 + cells.