Transforming growth factor-beta signaling network regulates plasticity and lineage commitment of lung cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Identification of target cells in lung tumorigenesis and characterization of the signals that control their behavior is an important step toward improving early cancer diagnosis and predicting tumor behavior. We identified a population of cells in the adult lung that bear the EpCAM+CD104+CD49f+CD44+CD24loSCA1+ phenotype and can be clonally expanded in culture, consistent with the properties of early progenitor cells. We show that these cells, rather than being restricted to one tumor type, can give rise to several different types of cancer, including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. We further demonstrate that these cells can be converted from one cancer type to the other, and this plasticity is determined by their responsiveness to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signalin

SUBMITTER: Ischenko I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4085528 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature