Why do certain cancer cells alter functionality and fuse?

Thomas Dittmar; Mareike Sieler; Ralf Hass

doi:10.1515/hsz-2023-0162

Why do certain cancer cells alter functionality and fuse?

Biol Chem. 2023 May 30;404(10):951-960. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0162. Print 2023 Sep 26.

Authors

Thomas Dittmar¹, Mareike Sieler¹, Ralf Hass²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, D-58448 Witten, Germany.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.

PMID: 37246410
DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0162

Abstract

Cancer cell fusion represents a rare event. However, the surviving cancer hybrid cells after a post-hybrid selection process (PHSP) can overgrow other cancer cells by exhibiting a proliferation advantage and/or expression of cancer stem-like properties. Addition of new tumor properties during hetero-fusion of cancer cells e.g. with mesenchymal stroma-/stem-like cells (MSC) contribute to enhanced tumor plasticity via acquisition of new/altered functionalities. This provides new avenues for tumor development and metastatic behavior. Consequently, the present review article will also address the question as to whether cancer cell fusion represents a general and possibly evolutionary-conserved program or rather a random process?

Keywords: PHSP; fusion partners; fusogenic state; tumor plasticity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Fusion
Cell Line, Tumor
Neoplasms*