title: Mediated coalescence: a possible mechanism for tumor cellular heterogeneity.
abstract: Recently, we demonstrated that tumorigenic cell lines and fresh tumor cells seeded in a 3D Matrigel model, first grow as clonal islands (primary aggregates), then coalesce through the formation and contraction of cellular cables. Non-tumorigenic cell lines and cells from normal tissue form clonal islands, but do not form cables or coalesce. Here we show that as little as 5% tumorigenic cells will actively mediate coalescence between primary aggregates of majority non-tumorigenic or non-cancerous cells, by forming cellular cables between them. We suggest that this newly discovered, specialized characteristic of tumorigenic cells may explain, at least in part, why tumors contain primarily non-tumorigenic cells.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livitz
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhl
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lusche
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.affiliation: Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, Department of Biology, University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Soll
keywords: 4D reconstruction; Intra-tumor heterogeneity; aggregate coalescence; cancer cell motility; field effect; tumor cell contact