Cooperation between melanoma cell states promotes metastasis through heterotypic cluster formation
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Date
2021-10-25Type
- Journal Article
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Cited 17 times in
Web of Science
Cited 18 times in
Scopus
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Abstract
Melanomas can have multiple coexisting cell states, including proliferative (PRO) versus invasive (INV) subpopulations that represent a “go or grow” trade-off; however, how these populations interact is poorly understood. Using a combination of zebrafish modeling and analysis of patient samples, we show that INV and PRO cells form spatially structured heterotypic clusters and cooperate in the seeding of metastasis, maintaining cell state heterogeneity. INV cells adhere tightly to each other and form clusters with a rim of PRO cells. Intravital imaging demonstrated cooperation in which INV cells facilitate dissemination of less metastatic PRO cells. We identified the TFAP2 neural crest transcription factor as a master regulator of clustering and PRO/INV states. Isolation of clusters from patients with metastatic melanoma revealed a subset with heterotypic PRO-INV clusters. Our data suggest a framework for the co-existence of these two divergent cell populations, in which heterotypic clusters promote metastasis via cell-cell cooperation. Show more
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publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Developmental CellVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Cell PressOrganisational unit
09736 - Aceto, Nicola / Aceto, Nicola
09736 - Aceto, Nicola / Aceto, Nicola
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 17 times in
Web of Science
Cited 18 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics