Small cell lung cancer: Circulating tumor cells of extended stage patients express a mesenchymal-epithelial transition phenotype

摘要: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is distinguished by aggressive growth, early dissemination and a poor prognosis at advanced stage. The remarkably high count of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) SCLC allowed for the establishment permanent CTC cultures our institution first time. CTCs are assumed to have characteristics stem (CSCs) an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, but extravasation tumors distal sites marked epithelial features. Two lines, namely BHGc7 BHGc10, as well lines derived from primary metastases were analyzed expression pluripotent markers growth factors. Expression E-cadherin β-Catenin determined flow cytometry. Stem cell-associated SOX17, α-fetoprotein, OCT-3/4, KDR, Otx2, GATA-4, Nanog, HCG, TP63 Goosecoid not expressed in 2 lines. In contrast, was found HNF-3β/FOXA2, SOX2, PDX-1/IPF1 E-cadherin. restricted pleural effusion (SCLC26A) bone (NCI-H526), respectively. Thus, these established extended disease patients lack which suppress phenotype. Instead they express levels consistent with mesenchymal-epithelial (MET or EMrT) form large tumorospheres possibly response selection pressure first-line chemotherapy. HNF-3β/FOXA2 seem be related factor dependence on insulin/IGF-1 receptors IGF-binding proteins.