Mediated coalescence: a possible mechanism for tumor cellular heterogeneity

American Journal of Cancer Research

Joseph Ambrose¹ 

关键词: Intra-tumor heterogeneity;    field effect;    cancer cell motility;    4D reconstruction;    tumor cell contact;    aggregate coalescence;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：肿瘤学

来源: e-Century Publishing Corporation

【 摘 要 】

Recently, we demonstrated that tumorigenic cell lines and fresh tumor cells seeded in a 3D Matrigel model, first grow as clonal islands (primary aggregates), then coalesce through the formation and contraction of cellular cables. Non-tumorigenic cell lines and cells from normal tissue form clonal islands, but do not form cables or coalesce. Here we show that as little as 5% tumorigenic cells will actively mediate coalescence between primary aggregates of majority non-tumorigenic or non-cancerous cells, by forming cellular cables between them. We suggest that this newly discovered, specialized characteristic of tumorigenic cells may explain, at least in part, why tumors contain primarily non-tumorigenic cells.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC