LY6D marks pre-existing resistant basosquamous tumor subpopulations

Improved response to canonical therapies requires a mechanistic understanding of dynamic tumor heterogeneity by identifying discrete cellular populations with enhanced cellular plasticity. We have previously demonstrated distinct resistance mechanisms in skin basal cell carcinomas, but a comprehensive understanding of the cellular states and markers associated with these populations remains poorly understood. Here we identify a pre-existing resistant cellular population in naive basal cell carcinoma tumors marked by the surface marker LY6D. LY6D⁺ tumor cells are spatially localized and possess basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma-like features. Using computational tools, organoids, and spatial tools, we show that LY6D⁺ basosquamous cells represent a persister population lying on a central node along the skin lineage-associated spectrum of epithelial states with local environmental and applied therapies determining the kinetics of accumulation. Surprisingly, LY6D⁺ basosquamous populations exist in many epithelial tumors, such as pancreatic adenocarcinomas, which have poor outcomes. Overall, our results identify the resistant LY6D⁺ basosquamous population as an important clinical target and suggest strategies for future therapeutic approaches to target them.