Spatial self-organization of cancer stem cell niches revealed by live single-cell imaging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phenotypic plasticity is a major factor in tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance. In particular, cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small subpopulation within tumors that possesses self-renewal and tumor-forming capabilities. Understanding reprogramming, maintenance, and lineage properties of CSCs requires dedicated tools to disentangle the respective influences of phenotypic inheritance and cell-cell interactions.

Methods

Here, we set up ultra-wide field microscopy to image breast cancer cell lines expressing a stemness fluorescent reporter over several days. The fluorescent reporter distinguishes three phenotypes: CSCs, cancer differentiated cells (CDCs), and intermediate/transiting cancer cells (iCCs).

Results

Spatial statistics indicate signifi

SUBMITTER: Brule M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12560515 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature