OVARIAN CANCER STEM CELLS AND METHODS OF ISOLATION AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention generally relates to methods, assays, compositions and kits related to a subpopulation of ovarian cancer stem cells which are selected or enriched by chemotherapeutic agents and inhibited by MIS (Mullerian Inhibiting Substance) and MIS mimetics. In particular, the present invention relates to a population of CD44+/CD24+/EpCam+/ECad- subpopulation of ovarian cancer stem cells. The present invention also provides methods to screen a subject with ovarian cancer to identify if they have an ovarian cancer comprising CD44+/CD24+/EpCam+/ECad- ovarian cancer stem cells, and methods to identify and enrich or isolate for such ovarian cancer cell populations.