[PDF][PDF] Tumor vessel co-option probed by single-cell analysis

LA Teuwen, LPMH De Rooij, A Cuypers, K Rohlenova… - Cell reports, 2021 - cell.com
Cell reports, 2021cell.com
Tumor vessel co-option is poorly understood, yet it is a resistance mechanism against anti-
angiogenic therapy (AAT). The heterogeneity of co-opted endothelial cells (ECs) and
pericytes, co-opting cancer and myeloid cells in tumors growing via vessel co-option, has
not been investigated at the single-cell level. Here, we use a murine AAT-resistant lung
tumor model, in which VEGF-targeting induces vessel co-option for continued growth. Single-
cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 31,964 cells reveals, unexpectedly, a largely similar …
Summary
Tumor vessel co-option is poorly understood, yet it is a resistance mechanism against anti-angiogenic therapy (AAT). The heterogeneity of co-opted endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, co-opting cancer and myeloid cells in tumors growing via vessel co-option, has not been investigated at the single-cell level. Here, we use a murine AAT-resistant lung tumor model, in which VEGF-targeting induces vessel co-option for continued growth. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of 31,964 cells reveals, unexpectedly, a largely similar transcriptome of co-opted tumor ECs (TECs) and pericytes as their healthy counterparts. Notably, we identify cell types that might contribute to vessel co-option, i.e., an invasive cancer-cell subtype, possibly assisted by a matrix-remodeling macrophage population, and another M1-like macrophage subtype, possibly involved in keeping or rendering vascular cells quiescent.
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