Role of CD133(+) cells in tongue squamous carcinomas: Characteristics of ‘stemness’ in vivo and in vitro

The objective of the present study was to determine the ‘stemness’ characteristics of CD133(+) cells (harvested from the squamous cell tongue carcinoma Tca-8113 cell line) in vitro and to observe the tumourigenicity of the CD133(+) cells in the bodies of NOD/SCID mice. Single cells from the Tca-8113 cell line were observed for multiplication capacity in vitro. The suspending and pelletizing phenomena of Tca-8113 cells in vitro were also observed, and the expression of CD133 in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was measured. The CD133(+) cells from the Tca-8113 cell line were purified, and their multiplication capacity and differentiation potency were observed. The NOD/SCID mouse model was established, and the tumourigenicity of the CD133(+) cells was determined. The Tca-8113 cells were observed to emerge in the form of suspending tumour spheres in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Monoplasts with sustainable multiplication capacity accounted for ~5.32% of the spheres, and 0.95% of the CD133(+) cells were expressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, with stronger multiplication capacity and differentiation potency in vitro. Stronger tumourigenicity was also observed in the bodies of the NOD/SCID mice. CD133(–) cells exhibited a multiplication capacity to a certain extent. Overall, the CD133(+) cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue are characterised by relatively strong tumourigenicity capacity in vivo and in vitro. To a certain extent, these CD133(+) cells demonstrate the characteristics of ‘stemness’.