Background Keratinoyte serum-free medium （K-SFM） is a defined medium used to support the growth of primary keratinocytes and embryonic stem cell. The aim of this research was to optimize enrichment of breast cancer stem cells （CSCs） using K-SFM. Methods＇ A K-SFM was used to enrich CSCs from two breast cancer cell lines and a primary culture of breast cancer. RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum （FCS） was used as a control. CSCs were identified with flow cytometry using CD44＋/CD24-as molecular markers. The expression of a variety of CSC markers （Oct-4, ABCG2, Nanog, N-cadherin, and E-cadherin） was analyzed with real-time PCR. Results Much higher percentage of CSCs was achieved with K-SFM： 17.3% for MCF-7 cells, 17.4% for SKBR-3, and 20.0% for primary breast cancer culture. Less than 1% CSC was achieved using RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% FCS. In comparison to the CSCs obtained with RPMI-1640, CSCs in the K-SFM expressed higher levels of Oct-4, ABCG2, Nanog and N-cadherin, and lower level of E-cadherin. Conclusion K-SFM is an optimal culture medium to maintain and to enrich breast CSCs.
LIU Zhen-zhenCHEN PingLU Zhen-duoCUI Shu-deDONG Zi-ming
