Lineage tracing and targeting of IL17RB+ tuft cell-like human colorectal cancer stem cells

N Goto, A Fukuda, Y Yamaga… - Proceedings of the …, 2019 - National Acad Sciences
N Goto, A Fukuda, Y Yamaga, T Yoshikawa, T Maruno, H Maekawa, S Inamoto, K Kawada…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019National Acad Sciences
Cancer stem cell (CSC)-specific markers may be potential therapeutic targets. We previously
identified that Dclk1, a tuft cell marker, marks tumor stem cells (TSCs) in mouse intestinal
adenomas. Based on the analysis of mouse Dclk1+ tumor cells, we aimed to identify a CSC-
specific cell surface marker in human colorectal cancers (hCRCs) and validate the
therapeutic effect of targeting it. IL17RB was distinctively expressed by Dclk1+ mouse
intestinal tumor cells. Using Il17rb-CreERT2-IRES-EGFP mice, we show that IL17RB marked …
Cancer stem cell (CSC)-specific markers may be potential therapeutic targets. We previously identified that Dclk1, a tuft cell marker, marks tumor stem cells (TSCs) in mouse intestinal adenomas. Based on the analysis of mouse Dclk1+ tumor cells, we aimed to identify a CSC-specific cell surface marker in human colorectal cancers (hCRCs) and validate the therapeutic effect of targeting it. IL17RB was distinctively expressed by Dclk1+ mouse intestinal tumor cells. Using Il17rb-CreERT2-IRES-EGFP mice, we show that IL17RB marked intestinal TSCs in an IL13-dependent manner. Tuft cell-like cancer cells were detected in a subset of hCRCs. In these hCRCs, lineage-tracing experiments in CRISPR-Cas9–mediated IL17RB-CreERT2 knockin organoids and xenograft tumors revealed that IL17RB marks CSCs that expand independently of IL-13. We observed up-regulation of POU2F3, a master regulator of tuft cell differentiation, and autonomous tuft cell-like cancer cell differentiation in the hCRCs. Furthermore, long-term ablation of IL17RB-expressing CSCs strongly suppressed the tumor growth in vivo. These findings reveal insights into a CSC-specific marker IL17RB in a subset of hCRCs, and preclinically validate IL17RB+ CSCs as a cancer therapeutic target.
National Acad Sciences