ΔNp63-Regulated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition State Heterogeneity Confers a Leader-Follower Relationship That Drives Collective Invasion.

ABSTRACT: Defining how interactions between tumor subpopulations contribute to invasion is essential for understanding how tumors metastasize. Here, we find that the heterogeneous expression of the transcription factor ΔNp63 confers distinct proliferative and invasive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) states in subpopulations that establish a leader-follower relationship to collectively invade. A ΔNp63-high EMT program coupled the ability to proliferate with an IL1α- and miR-205-dependent suppression of cellular protrusions that are required to initiate collective invasion. An alternative ΔNp63-low EMT program conferred cells with the ability to initiate and lead collective invasion. However, this ΔNp63-low EMT state triggered a collateral loss of fitness. Importantly, rare growth-suppresse

SUBMITTER: Westcott JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8406430 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature