A hybrid breast cancer/mesenchymal stem cell population enhances chemoresistance and metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer remain at risk for metastatic disease despite treatment. The acquisition of chemoresistance is a major cause of tumor relapse and death, but the mechanisms are far from understood. We have demonstrated that breast cancer cells (BCCs) can engulf mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), leading to enhanced dissemination. Here, we show that clinical samples of primary invasive carcinoma and chemoresistant breast cancer metastasis contain a unique hybrid cancer cell population coexpressing pancytokeratin and the MSC marker fibroblast activation protein-α. We show that hybrid cells form in primary tumors and that they promote breast cancer metastasis and chemoresistance. Using single-cell microfluidics and in vivo models, we found that there are polyplo

SUBMITTER: Augimeri G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10561721 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature