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

Summary: 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 lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yun-Jeong Choe, Jin Young Min, Hyunseong Lee, Sang-Yeop Lee, Joseph Kwon, Hye-Jin Kim, Jangho Lee, Hyun Min Kim, Hye Sun Park, Mi Young Cho, Ju-Yong Hyun, Hye Min Kim, Yong-Ho Chung, Sang Keun Ha, Hye Gwang Jeong, Inpyo Choi, Tae-Don Kim, Kwan Soo Hong, Eun Hee Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-09-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004222012895
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Summary:Summary: 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 cancer cells. These results suggest a mechanism underlying immune evasion in heterotypic CIC cancer cells and provide insights into the anticancer drug resistance of cancer cells.
ISSN:2589-0042