What is it about?
This study investigated how the transfer of fragments of cellular components (trogocytosis) from tumor infiltrating immune cells to renal cancer cells resulted in a new type of cell that has both cancer and immune cell characteristics. In addition to the transfer of surface membrane proteins, this study also demonstrated that genomic DNA is transferred to the tumor cell, resulting in permanent changes to the cancer cell phenotype.
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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our findings show a novel perspective on how heterogeneity may develop among cancer cells in a tumor. Genes are typically thought to be passed vertically from parent to daughter cells, however this study provides evidence of horizontal gene transfer between two cells in contact. This can result in cancer cells expressing previously unobtainable cellular machinery that can better help them avoid detection and destruction by the immune system. These findings will help inform the next generation of immunotherapies so that they may provide more complete and durable cures.
Perspectives
"I hope that this study will encourage readers to reevaluate their current understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment. This study provides a novel perspective of just how dynamic cancer-immune cell interactions can be. In the future, trogocytosis and other cell contact-mediated mechanisms of transfer will likely shape our understanding of tumor development." -Alfred Bothwell, PhD
Haley Marcarian
University of Arizona
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Renal cancer cells acquire immune surface protein through trogocytosis and horizontal gene transfer, PLOS One, May 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325043.
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