Heterotypic cell-in-cell structures between cancer and NK cells are associated with enhanced anticancer drug resistance.

ABSTRACT: The heterotypic CIC structures formed of cancer and immune cells have been observed in tumor tissues. We aimed to assess the feasibility of using heterotypic CICs as a functional biomarker to predict NK susceptibility and drug resistance. The heterotypic CIC-forming cancer cells showed a lower response to NK cytotoxicity and higher proliferative ability than non-CIC cancer cells. After treatment with anticancer drugs, cancer cells that formed heterotypic CICs showed a higher resistance to anticancer drugs than non-CIC cancer cells. We also observed the formation of more CIC structures in cancer cells treated with anticancer drugs than in the non-treated group. Our results confirm the association between heterotypic CIC structures and anticancer drug resistance in CICs formed from NK and ca

SUBMITTER: Choe YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9464952 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature