Reviewer's report
Title:Sphere-forming cell subpopulations with cancer stem cell properties in
human hepatoma cell lines
Version: 1Date:13 January 2011
Reviewer: Malcolm Alison
Reviewer's report:
Overall: accept with minor modifications
This paper describes a study of sphere-forming cells in 3 malignant liver cell lines
although ultimately concentrating on just one. It?s quite straightforward and
generally well written but with some very obvious errors of language which could
be easily be corrected at the editorial level. These cells were far more clonogenic
and tumorigenic than the parental cells and enriched in so-called stem cell
markers ?
thus supporting the sphere assay as a way of identifying CSCs.
Tantalising evidence was presented for a role of Notch signalling in the
maintenance of sphere-forming cells; the paper would be greatly strengthened by
functional studies of knock-down of Notch components.
Minor points:
1. Throughout: replace ?spheroid cells? with either ?sphere-forming
cells? or ?sphere cells?
2. Fig. 2B: cell survival rate incorrect (a rate has units of time)
3. Page 10 ? in text, refer to Fig. 4A. Also, the Figure does not
support the statement that most cells express OV6.
Reviewer's report
Title:Sphere-forming cell subpopulations with cancer stem cell properties in
human hepatoma cell lines
Version: 1Date:13 January 2011
Reviewer: Malcolm Alison
Reviewer's report:
Overall: accept with minor modifications
This paper describes a study of sphere-forming cells in 3 malignant liver cell lines
although ultimately concentrating on just one. It?s quite straightforward and
generally well written but with some very obvious errors of language which could
be easily be corrected at the editorial level. These cells were far more clonogenic
and tumorigenic than the parental cells and enriched in so-called stem cell
markers ?
thus supporting the sphere assay as a way of identifying CSCs.
Tantalising evidence was presented for a role of Notch signalling in the
maintenance of sphere-forming cells; the paper would be greatly strengthened by
functional studies of knock-down of Notch components.
Minor points:
1. Throughout: replace ?spheroid cells? with either ?sphere-forming
cells? or ?sphere cells?
2. Fig. 2B: cell survival rate incorrect (a rate has units of time)
3. Page 10 ? in text, refer to Fig. 4A. Also, the Figure does not
support the statement that most cells express OV6.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Sphere-forming cell subpopulations with cancer stem cell properties in
human hepatoma cell lines
Version: 1Date:13 January 2011
Reviewer: Malcolm Alison
Reviewer's report:
Overall: accept with minor modifications
This paper describes a study of sphere-forming cells in 3 malignant liver cell lines
although ultimately concentrating on just one. It?s quite straightforward and
generally well written but with some very obvious errors of language which could
be easily be corrected at the editorial level. These cells were far more clonogenic
and tumorigenic than the parental cells and enriched in so-called stem cell
markers ?
thus supporting the sphere assay as a way of identifying CSCs.
Tantalising evidence was presented for a role of Notch signalling in the
maintenance of sphere-forming cells; the paper would be greatly strengthened by
functional studies of knock-down of Notch components.
Minor points:
1. Throughout: replace ?spheroid cells? with either ?sphere-forming
cells? or ?sphere cells?
2. Fig. 2B: cell survival rate incorrect (a rate has units of time)
3. Page 10 ? in text, refer to Fig. 4A. Also, the Figure does not
support the statement that most cells express OV6.
assistant