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NON-PROFESSIONAL PHAGOCYTOSIS OF LEWIS LUNG CARCINOMA CELLS UNDER DIFFERENT GROWTH CONDITIONS
D Kolesnik1, O Lykhova1, Y Stepanov1
1R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Experimental Oncology
|January 5, 2026
Summary
Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells exhibit non-professional phagocytosis. This phagocytic activity significantly increases when cancer cells grow independently of anchorage, highlighting a key adaptation in tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
- Immunology
Background:
- Phagocytosis is a fundamental cellular process utilized by both professional and non-professional phagocytes.
- Cancer cells, acting as non-professional phagocytes, can form
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the non-professional phagocytosis of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells.
- To determine how cancer cell growth conditions influence phagocytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a low-metastatic LLC cell variant (LLC/R9).
- Assessed phagocytic activity using fluorescent latex beads under varying conditions: anchorage-dependent vs. anchorage-independent growth, and standard vs. glucose-free media.
Main Results:
- LLC/R9 cells demonstrated significant phagocytic activity.
- Phagocytosis increased nearly fourfold under anchorage-independent growth conditions.
- Glucose deprivation reduced the percentage of phagocytic cells but increased internalized beads per cell, indicating population heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC/R9) cells are capable of non-professional phagocytosis.
- Phagocytic activity is markedly enhanced under anchorage-independent growth.
- Glucose deprivation has a limited impact on phagocytosis, revealing population heterogeneity.
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