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Small and altered cells worsen cancer.
AGI - Some tumor cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes and smaller than expected sizes may be among the main factors that make certain tumors more aggressive and difficult to treat. This emerges from a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and coordinated by Daniela Cimini of Virginia Tech, which analyzed the behavior of so-called tetraploid cells during tumor growth.
In healthy cells, the genetic heritage is normally composed of two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from each parent. However, sometimes during cell division, errors can occur that alter the number of chromosomes, favoring the onset of diseases such as cancer.
The Role of Tetraploid Cells
The researchers focused particularly on tetraploid cells, characterized by four complete copies of chromosomes. This condition is often associated with tumor progression and poorer prognoses for oncology patients.
Experimental Models and Results
To study the phenomenon, the research group induced diploid tumor cells to duplicate their chromosomes without completing cell division, thus obtaining tetraploid cells to use in experimental models. Comparing tumors originating from normal cells and tetraploid cells in mice, the scientists observed that, while decreasing numerically during tumor growth, tetraploid cells favored the rapid expansion of the tumor mass.
Interaction with Stromal Cells
According to the authors, the phenomenon is linked to the ability of these cells to recruit non-tumor stromal cells, connective tissue elements that provide structural support and support cancer progression.
An Unexpected Result
“The presence of even a small amount of tetraploid cells can promote the recruitment of non-cancerous cells that further promote tumor growth,” explains Megan Sweet, the first author of the study. However, during the research, a second unexpected result also emerged.
Smaller and More Aggressive Cells
When the researchers isolated several clones of human tetraploid tumor cells, they discovered that some were 25 to 30 percent smaller than expected. These smaller cells turned out to be the most aggressive.
Resistance and Tumor Growth
“Smaller cells grow faster, are more invasive, and better tolerate common anti-tumor drugs and stressful conditions,” observes Mat Bloomfield, co-author of the study. Experiments conducted in murine models confirmed that tumors consisting of smaller tetraploid cells tended to increase in size more quickly.
Different Types of Tumors
The same behavior was observed in both colon-rectal tumors and breast tumors.
Clinical Human Data
To verify whether the phenomenon was also present in humans, the research group analyzed data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, a large international archive of human tumor samples. The analysis showed that the presence of small-sized tetraploid cells was associated with poorer prognoses and reduced survival in several types of tumors.
Future Clinical Implications
“We already knew that tetraploidy can increase the tumor potential of cells,” explains Daniela Cimini. “Now we have discovered that including cell size also makes it possible to predict with greater accuracy the aggressiveness of the tumor.” According to the authors, the results could open up new perspectives in the development of prognostic biomarkers and targeted therapies against the most aggressive tumor cells. The next studies will be dedicated to deepening the biological mechanisms that connect cell size, chromosomal alterations, and cancer progression.
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https://www.agi.it/cronaca/news/2026-05-27/cancro-cellule-tumore-37255588/