Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC

IntroductionSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by significant heterogeneity and plasticity, contributing to its aggressive progression and therapy resistance. Autophagy, a conserved cellular process, is implicated in many cancers, but its role in SCLC remains unclear.MethodsUsing a genet...

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Main Authors: Yujie Hao, Mingchen Li, Wenxu Liu, Zhenyi Ma, Zhe Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1509183/full
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author Yujie Hao
Mingchen Li
Wenxu Liu
Zhenyi Ma
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
author_facet Yujie Hao
Mingchen Li
Wenxu Liu
Zhenyi Ma
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
author_sort Yujie Hao
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by significant heterogeneity and plasticity, contributing to its aggressive progression and therapy resistance. Autophagy, a conserved cellular process, is implicated in many cancers, but its role in SCLC remains unclear.MethodsUsing a genetically engineered mouse model (Rb1fl/fl; Trp53fl/fl; GFP-LC3-RFP-LC3△G), we tracked autophagic flux in vivo to investigate its effects on SCLC biology. Additional in vitro experiments were conducted to modulate autophagic flux in NE and non-NE SCLC cell lines.ResultsTumor subpopulations with high autophagic flux displayed increased proliferation, enhanced metastatic potential, and neuroendocrine (NE) characteristics. Conversely, low-autophagic flux subpopulations exhibited immune-related signals and non-NE traits. In vitro, increasing autophagy induced NE features in non-NE cell lines, while autophagy inhibition in NE cell lines promoted non-NE characteristics.DiscussionThis study provides a novel model for investigating autophagy in vivo and underscores its critical role in driving SCLC heterogeneity and plasticity, offering potential therapeutic insights.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-5046c5a19fe64fbdaf397246cbbb3fe12025-08-20T02:44:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-01-011410.3389/fonc.2024.15091831509183Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLCYujie Hao0Mingchen Li1Wenxu Liu2Zhenyi Ma3Zhe Liu4Zhe Liu5Zhe Liu6Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaZhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaZhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaZhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaIntroductionSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by significant heterogeneity and plasticity, contributing to its aggressive progression and therapy resistance. Autophagy, a conserved cellular process, is implicated in many cancers, but its role in SCLC remains unclear.MethodsUsing a genetically engineered mouse model (Rb1fl/fl; Trp53fl/fl; GFP-LC3-RFP-LC3△G), we tracked autophagic flux in vivo to investigate its effects on SCLC biology. Additional in vitro experiments were conducted to modulate autophagic flux in NE and non-NE SCLC cell lines.ResultsTumor subpopulations with high autophagic flux displayed increased proliferation, enhanced metastatic potential, and neuroendocrine (NE) characteristics. Conversely, low-autophagic flux subpopulations exhibited immune-related signals and non-NE traits. In vitro, increasing autophagy induced NE features in non-NE cell lines, while autophagy inhibition in NE cell lines promoted non-NE characteristics.DiscussionThis study provides a novel model for investigating autophagy in vivo and underscores its critical role in driving SCLC heterogeneity and plasticity, offering potential therapeutic insights.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1509183/fullautophagic fluxsmall cell lung cancerSCLClineage transitionheterogeneityplasticity
spellingShingle Yujie Hao
Mingchen Li
Wenxu Liu
Zhenyi Ma
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
Zhe Liu
Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
Frontiers in Oncology
autophagic flux
small cell lung cancer
SCLC
lineage transition
heterogeneity
plasticity
title Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
title_full Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
title_fullStr Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
title_full_unstemmed Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
title_short Autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in SCLC
title_sort autophagic flux modulates tumor heterogeneity and lineage plasticity in sclc
topic autophagic flux
small cell lung cancer
SCLC
lineage transition
heterogeneity
plasticity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1509183/full
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