Chinese, US researchers identify group of adaptable tumor cells

(MENAFN) A collaborative team of Chinese and American scientists has identified a specific subset of highly adaptable tumor cells that play a central role in driving lung cancer growth and progression.

The study, led by researchers from a Chinese university and a major U.S. cancer center, introduces a novel approach for tackling cancers that evade conventional treatments. According to one of the lead researchers, a key reason cancer recurs and resists therapy is the ability of tumor cells to switch between different states to survive drug attacks.

To observe these changes, the team developed a genetic reporting system in mouse models of lung cancer, effectively equipping tumor cells with “trackable chips” and “precision clearance switches.” This allowed them to identify a “high-plasticity cell state” (HPCS), which functions as a central hub within tumors, directing cell growth and enabling some cells to revert to an adaptable state.

Experiments showed that removing HPCS cells in early tumors prevented malignancy, while targeting them in established tumors slowed cancer growth.
Eliminating these cells also reduced resistance to chemotherapy and targeted drugs. When this strategy was combined with standard treatments, it nearly eradicated tumors in the models.

The researchers propose that focusing on this flexible cell state may offer a promising new avenue for combating multiple types of cancer.

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