Using the recently described CD104+/CD44hi antigen combination we demonstrate that tumorigenicity depends on individual cells residing in a hybrid E/M state. Acquisition of this E/M hybrid state is facilitated by the differential expression of EMT- TFs, like Snail accompanied by the expression of adult stem-cell programs. Transition from the highly tumorigenic E/M state to a fully mesenchymal phenotype, achieved by constitutive ectopic expression of Zeb1, is sufficient to drive cells out of the E/M hybrid state into an extreme mesenchymal (xM) state, which is accompanied by a substantial loss of tumorigenicity and a switch from canonical to non-canonical Wnt signaling. SOURCE: Cornelia Kroeger (ckroeger@gmx.net) - Weinberg Whitehead Institute

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE119149: Acquisition of a hybrid E/M state is essential for tumorigenicity of basal breast cancer cells