Identification and enrichment of cell subpopulations
View Patent ↗Markers useful for the identification, characterization and, optionally, the enrichment or isolation of tumorigenic cells or cell subpopulations are disclosed.
1. A method for providing an enriched tumorigenic cell population comprising cells having a marker phenotype of CD46 hi , the method comprising the steps of:
a) contacting a tumor cell population with at least one binding agent comprising an anti-CD46 antibody associated with a fluorescent tag; and
b) sorting cells binding to said at least one binding agent and having a marker phenotype comprising CD46 hi from cells that do not have a marker phenotype comprising CD46 hi to provide an enriched tumorigenic cell population, wherein at least 40% of the tumorigenic cells in the sorted population have a marker phenotype comprising CD46 hi .
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said anti-CD46 antibody comprises an anti-CD46 monoclonal antibody.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises fluorescence activated cell sorting or flow cytometry or techniques.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises fluorescence activated cell sorting.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tumor cell population is derived from a solid tumor.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said solid tumor is obtained from a subject suffering from a neoplastic disorder selected from the group consisting of adrenal cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the cells within the enriched tumorigenic cell population have a CD46 hi marker phenotype.
8. A tumor cell population comprising CD46 hi tumorigenic cells bound by an anti-CD46 antibody associated with a detectable agent, wherein at least 40% of the tumor cells in the population have a marker phenotype comprising CD46 hi .
9. The tumorigenic cell population of claim 8 , wherein at least 50% of said cells have a CD46 hi marker phenotype.
10. A composition comprising the tumorigenic cell population of claim 8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.