Identification of ATF3 as a novel protective signature of quiescent colorectal tumor cells

Bibliographic Details
Title: Identification of ATF3 as a novel protective signature of quiescent colorectal tumor cells
Authors: Xi Lu, Lei Zhong, Emma Lindell, Margus Veanes, Jing Guo, Miao Zhao, Maede Salehi, Fredrik J. Swartling, Xingqi Chen, Tobias Sjöblom, Xiaonan Zhang
Source: Cell Death and Disease, Vol 14, Iss 10, Pp 1-13 (2023)
Publisher Information: Nature Publishing Group, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Cytology
Subject Terms: Cytology, QH573-671
More Details: Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in the world. In most cases, drug resistance and tumor recurrence are ultimately inevitable. One obstacle is the presence of chemotherapy-insensitive quiescent cancer cells (QCCs). Identification of unique features of QCCs may facilitate the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies to eliminate tumor cells and thereby delay tumor recurrence. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we classified proliferating and quiescent cancer cell populations in the human colorectal cancer spheroid model and identified ATF3 as a novel signature of QCCs that could support cells living in a metabolically restricted microenvironment. RNA velocity further showed a shift from the QCC group to the PCC group indicating the regenerative capacity of the QCCs. Our further results of epigenetic analysis, STING analysis, and evaluation of TCGA COAD datasets build a conclusion that ATF3 can interact with DDIT4 and TRIB3 at the transcriptional level. In addition, decreasing the expression level of ATF3 could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU on CRC MCTS models. In conclusion, ATF3 was identified as a novel marker of QCCs, and combining conventional drugs targeting PCCs with an option to target QCCs by reducing ATF3 expression levels may be a promising strategy for more efficient removal of tumor cells.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2041-4889
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2041-4889
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06204-1
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/bfee95fe23424e87b63444b9fffa0168
Accession Number: edsdoj.bfee95fe23424e87b63444b9fffa0168
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20414889
DOI:10.1038/s41419-023-06204-1
Published in:Cell Death and Disease
Language:English