Heterotypic CAF-tumor spheroids promote early peritoneal metastatis of ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACT: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is hallmarked by early onset of peritoneal dissemination, which distinguishes it from low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). Here, we describe the aggressive nature of HGSOC ascitic tumor cells (ATCs) characterized by integrin α5^high (ITGA5^high) ATCs, which are prone to forming heterotypic spheroids with fibroblasts. We term these aggregates as metastatic units (MUs) in HGSOC for their advantageous metastatic capacity and active involvement in early peritoneal dissemination. Intriguingly, fibroblasts inside MUs support ATC survival and guide their peritoneal invasion before becoming essential components of the tumor stroma in newly formed metastases. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) recruit ITGA5^high ATCs to fo

SUBMITTER: Gao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6400537 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature