Compositions and methods for treating and diagnosing cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, treating and diagnosing cancer. In particular, the present invention provides a cancer stem cell profile, as well as novel stem cell cancer markers useful for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and in particular the targeting of solid tumor stem cells.

1 .- 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method for obtaining from a head and neck tumor a cellular composition comprising head and neck cancer stem cells and non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells, wherein at least 75% of the tumor cells in the composition are tumorigenic head and neck cancer stem cells and 25% or less of the tumor cells in the composition are non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a dissociated mixture of head and neck tumor cells;   (b) separating the mixture of head and neck tumor cells into a first fraction comprising at least 75% head and neck cancer stem cells and 25% or less non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells and a second fraction of head and neck tumor cells depleted of head and neck cancer stem cells, wherein the separating comprises contacting the mixture with a reagent against CD44; and   (c) collecting the first fraction, wherein the head and neck cancer stem cells in the first fraction are CD44 + .   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the separating is performed by flow cytometry, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), panning, affinity chromatography or magnetic selection. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the separating is performed by FACS analysis. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the separating further comprises contacting the mixture with a reagent against ESA; and collecting the first fraction, wherein the head and neck cancer stem cells in the first fraction are CD44 + ESA + . 
     
     
         73 . A method for preparing a population of head and neck tumor cells enriched for head and neck cancer stem cells wherein the enriched population comprises 75% or more head and neck cancer stem cells and 25% or less non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a dissociated mixture of head and neck tumor cells;   (b) contacting the mixture of head and neck tumor cells with a reagent against CD44;   (c) selecting a first fraction enriched for head and neck cancer stem cells by their binding to the reagent and a second fraction of head and neck tumor cells depleted of head and neck cancer stem cells; and   (d) collecting the first fraction, wherein the head and neck cancer stem cells in the first fraction are CD44 + .   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the selecting is performed by flow cytometry, FACS, panning, affinity chromatography, or magnetic selection. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the selecting is performed by FACS analysis. 
     
     
         76 . A method for obtaining from a head and neck tumor a cellular composition comprising head and neck cancer stem cells and non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells, wherein at least 75% of the tumor cells in the composition are tumorigenic head and neck cancer stem cells and 25% or less of the tumor cells in the composition are non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a dissociated mixture of head and neck tumor cells;   (b) separating the mixture of head and neck tumor cells into a first fraction comprising at least 75% head and neck cancer stem cells and 25% or less non-tumorigenic head and neck tumor cells and a second fraction of head and neck tumor cells depleted of head and neck cancer stem cells, wherein the separating comprises contacting the mixture with reagents against CD44 and ESA; and   (c) collecting the first fraction, wherein the head and neck cancer stem cells in the first fraction are CD44 + ESA + .   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the selecting is performed by flow cytometry, FACS, panning, affinity chromatography, or magnetic selection. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the selecting is performed by FACS analysis.