Communications Biology (Jan 2021)

Reciprocal interactions between tumour cell populations enhance growth and reduce radiation sensitivity in prostate cancer

  • Marcin Paczkowski,
  • Warren W. Kretzschmar,
  • Bostjan Markelc,
  • Stanley K. Liu,
  • Leoni A. Kunz-Schughart,
  • Adrian L. Harris,
  • Mike Partridge,
  • Helen M. Byrne,
  • Pavitra Kannan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01529-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Using co-culture experiments and mathematical modelling, Paczkowski et al discover that prostate cancer spheroids comprising mixed tumour cell populations display enhanced growth and reduced radiation sensitivity due to competitive and antagonistic interactions between cell populations. This interdisciplinary approach reveals a role for ecological-type interactions in the radiation response and may be used to study other cancer types.