Analysis of Circulating Tumor and Cancer Stem Cells Provides New Opportunities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Current methods for diagnosis and treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have only a modest efficacy. In this pilot study, we analyzed circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) in patients with SCLC to search for new diagnostic and prognostic markers and novel approaches to improve the treatment of the disease. In other forms of lung cancer, we showed a heterogeneity of blood CTCs and CSCs populations, as well as changes in other cell populations (ALDH(+), CD87(+)CD276(+), and EGF(+)Axl(+)) in smokers. A number of CTCs and CSCs in patients with SCLC have been shown to be resistant to chemotherapy (CT). High cytotoxic activity and resistance to apoptosis of reprogrammed CD3(+)CD8(+) T-lymphocytes (rTcells) in relation to naive CD3(+)CD8(+) T-lymphocytes was demonstrated in a smoking patient with SCLC (Patient G) in vitro. The target for rTcells was patient G’s blood CSCs. Reprogramming of CD3(+)CD8(+) T-lymphocytes was carried out with the MEK1/2 inhibitor and PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blocker nivolumab. The training procedure was performed with a suspension of dead CTCs and CSCs obtained from patient’s G blood. The presented data show a new avenue for personalized SCLC diagnosis and targeted improvement of chemotherapy based on the use of both CTCs and CSCs.