Rare steroid receptor-negative basal-like tumorigenic cells in luminal subtype human breast cancer xenografts

摘要: There are two major subtypes of human breast cancers: the luminal, estrogen, and progesterone receptor-positive, cytokeratin 18-positive (ER(+)PR(+)CK18(+)) subtype, basal ER(-)PR(-)CK18(-)CK5(+) subtype. Tumor-initiating cells (CD44(+)) have been described for cancers; whether these common to is unknown. We identified a rare population that both CD44(+) ER(-)PR(-)CK5(+) in luminal-like ER(+)PR(+) T47D tumor xenografts. The tumor-isolated cell fraction was highly enriched clonogenic (in vitro culture) tumorigenic vivo reimplantation) compared with CD44(-) fraction. Rare were present within CD44(+)-derived colonies. Tumor-isolated placed minimal media also contained at early time points (<10 cells); however, this did not expand increasing colony size. number ER(+)PR(+)CK5(-) cells, conversely, increased linearly growth. Similary, tumors originating from static population, an intermediate ER(-)PR(-)CK5(-) expanding population. Putative ER(+)PR(+)CK5(+) transitional could be seen only colonies or treated progestin. propose luminal contain minor has capacity generate majority ER(+)PR(+)CK18(+)CK5(-) cells. Luminal cancers endocrine therapies target ER. progenitor would escape such treatments survive repopulate tumor.