Acquisition of a hybrid E/M state is essential for tumorigenicity of basal breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Carcinoma cells residing in an intermediate phenotypic state along the epithelial-mesenchymal (E-M) spectrum are associated with malignant phenotypes, such as invasiveness, tumor-initiating ability, and metastatic dissemination. Using the recently described CD104⁺/CD44^hi antigen marker combination, we isolated highly tumorigenic breast cancer cells residing stably-both in vitro and in vivo-in an intermediate phenotypic state and coexpressing both epithelial (E) and mesenchymal (M) markers. We demonstrate that tumorigenicity depends on individual cells residing in this E/M hybrid state and cannot be phenocopied by mixing two cell populations that reside stably at the two ends of the spectrum, i.e., in the E and in the M state. Hence, residence in a specific intermediat

SUBMITTER: Kroger C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6462070 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature