HMGA1 stimulates cancer stem-like features and sensitivity to monensin in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer represents a serious health problem worldwide, with insufficient molecular biomarkers and therapeutic options. Consequently, several efforts have been directed towards finding specific disease markers in order to develop new therapies capable of defeating gastric cancer. Attention has been pointed to cancer stem cells (CSCs) as they are primarily responsible for tumor initiation and recurrence, making them essential therapeutic targets. Using the SORE6-GFP reporter system, based on the expression of SOX2 and/or OCT4 to drive GFP expression, we isolated gastric cancer stem-like cells (SORE6+ cells) enriched in several molecules, including SOX2, C-MYC, KLF4, HIF-1α, NOTCH1 and HMGA1. Here, we explored the previously undisclosed link of HMGA1 with gastric CSCs. Our results indicated that HMGA1 can activate a transcriptional program that includes SOX2, C-MYC, and KLF4 and endows cells with CSC features. We further showed that chemical induction of gastric CSCs using ciclopirox (CPX) can be mediated by HMGA1. Finally, we showed that HMGA1 GFP+ cells were sensitive to monensin confirming the selective activity of this drug over CSCs. Thus, HMGA1 is a key player in the cellular reprogramming of gastric non-CSCs to cancer stem-like cells.