Selective Activation of Cancer Stem Cells by Size-Specific Hyaluronan in Head and Neck Cancer

Figure 1

Isolation of cancer stem cell-like population from tumor-derived HNSCC (HSC-3 cells) using multicolor fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Tumor-derived human HNSCC (HSC-3 cells) were incubated with both ALDEFLUOR kit (to measure an ALDH1 enzymatic activity) and allophycocyanin- (APC-) labeled anti-CD44v3 antibody (recognizing the v3-specific domain of CD44) followed by FACS and cell sorting (Figure 1). Flow cytometry analyses of HSC-3 tumor cell populations including (top right quad, 18.5%) or (top left quad, 6.4%) or (bottom right quad, 4.9%) or (bottom left quad, 70.2%). Live tumor cell sorting was then done using a FACS-fluorescence-activated cell sorter to isolate cells or for the study.