What are the best markers to isolate the epithelial cancer cells from tumor tissues?
I would suggest EpCam but it may be cancer cell type dependent, its expression levels definitely vary with breast cancer lines I have had in culture. I would look up publications on your specific cancer cell type and try to mimic successful isolations already published if you have not done so already.
Interesting question, please let me know when you come out with specific answers. Tumor tissue, you mean, non-epithelial tumor tissue?
Thanks Everyone for the answers and suggestions.
@Laura: Epcam is no doubt a superior marker for isolation of Epithelial cells and cancer cells of epithelial origin. However, it has been shown associated with the self-renewal potential of breast cancer cells. Therefore, I am confused if to go with it or use CK7/8. There is a problem with the CK7/8 as well, Cells undergoing EMT have lower expression of CK7/8. I want to isolate all population of cancer cells present in the tumor tissue and not a single population or a limited fraction.
@Girdhar: No, from epithelial tumor itself which is a mix of both stromal cells and cancer cells.
@Goodwin: PDAC.
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