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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Three-dimensional Co-culture Model for Tumor-stromal Interaction
Published on: February 2, 2015
Heterogeneity of cancer stem cell-related marker expression is associated with three-dimensional structures in
Yen-Yu Lin1,2, Yueh-Shen Lin1, Cher-Wei Liang1,2
1Department of Pathology, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Introduction:
Cancer stem cells have been described in lung adenocarcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusion. They show clinically important features, including the ability to initiate new tumours and resistance to treatments. However, their correlation with the three-dimensional tumour structures in the effusion is not well understood.
Methods:
Cell blocks produced from lung adenocarcinoma patients' pleural effusion were examined for cancer stem cell-related markers Nanog and CD133 using immunocytochemistry. The three-dimensional cancer cell structures and CD133 expression patterns were visualized with tissue-clearing technology. The expression patterns were correlated with tumour cell structures, genetic variants and clinical outcomes.
Results:
Thirty-nine patients were analysed. Moderate-to-strong Nanog expression was detected in 27 cases (69%), while CD133 was expressed by more than 1% of cancer cells in 11 cases (28%). Nanog expression was more homogenous within individual specimens, while CD133 expression was detected in single tumour cells or cells within small clusters instead of larger structures in 8 of the 11 positive cases (73%). Although no statistically significant correlation between the markers and tumour genetic variants or patient survival was observed, we recorded seven cases with follow-up specimens after cancer treatment, and four (57%) showed a change in stem cell-related marker expression corresponding to treatment response.
Conclusions:
Lung adenocarcinoma cells in the pleural effusion show variable expression of cancer stem cell-related markers, some showing a correlation with the size of cell clusters. Their expression level is potentially correlated with cancer treatment effects.
