Acquisition of a hybrid E/M state is essential for tumorigenicity of basal breast cancer cells.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 116(15): 7353-7362, 2019 04 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30910979
ABSTRACT
Carcinoma cells residing in an intermediate phenotypic state along the epithelial-mesenchymal (E-M) spectrum are associated with malignant phenotypes, such as invasiveness, tumor-initiating ability, and metastatic dissemination. Using the recently described CD104+/CD44hi antigen marker combination, we isolated highly tumorigenic breast cancer cells residing stably-both in vitro and in vivo-in an intermediate phenotypic state and coexpressing both epithelial (E) and mesenchymal (M) markers. We demonstrate that tumorigenicity depends on individual cells residing in this E/M hybrid state and cannot be phenocopied by mixing two cell populations that reside stably at the two ends of the spectrum, i.e., in the E and in the M state. Hence, residence in a specific intermediate state along the E-M spectrum rather than phenotypic plasticity appears critical to the expression of tumor-initiating capacity. Acquisition of this E/M hybrid state is facilitated by the differential expression of EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs) and is accompanied by the expression of adult stem cell programs, notably, active canonical Wnt signaling. Furthermore, transition from the highly tumorigenic E/M state to a fully mesenchymal phenotype, achieved by constitutive ectopic expression of Zeb1, is sufficient to drive cells out of the E/M hybrid state into a highly mesenchymal state, which is accompanied by a substantial loss of tumorigenicity and a switch from canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling. Identifying the gatekeepers of the various phenotypic states arrayed along the E-M spectrum is likely to prove useful in developing therapeutic approaches that operate by shifting cancer cells between distinct states along this spectrum.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Células-Tronco Neoplásicas
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Neoplasias da Mama
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Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica
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Neoplasia de Células Basais
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Células-Tronco Adultas
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Transição Epitelial-Mesenquimal
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Via de Sinalização Wnt
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article