tumörperfusion

Tumörperfusion, or tumor cell fusion, refers to the process by which two or more cells within a tumor merge their membranes to form a single hybrid cell. This phenomenon can occur between malignant cells themselves or between tumor cells and non-tumor cells present in the tumor microenvironment, such as stromal or immune cells.

Fusion can be driven by several mechanisms. Inflammation and hypoxia within tumors can upregulate fusogenic proteins and cell‑cell adhesion molecules, promoting membrane merging. Viral fusogens or cellular programs activated during stress may also contribute. The resulting hybrid cells often become polyploid or aneuploid, reflecting the combined genomes of parent cells.

Hybrid cells produced by Tumörperfusion exhibit altered properties that can influence cancer progression. They may show increased genetic and phenotypic diversity, enhanced migratory and invasive capabilities, and greater resistance to therapies. In some cancers, fused cells display markers from both contributors, supporting evidence from imaging, lineage tracing, and genomic analyses. However, distinguishing true cell fusion from other processes such as phagocytosis or cell-to-cell transfer remains challenging in studies.

Detection and study of Tumörperfusion rely on cytogenetic and molecular techniques, including karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), single‑cell sequencing, and lineage tracing in animal models. Clinically, the presence of fusion-derived hybrids is associated with tumor heterogeneity and may influence prognosis and treatment response in certain cancer types, though its prevalence and impact vary.

Research on Tumörperfusion aims to understand its role in tumor evolution and to identify strategies that limit harmful fusion events, potentially reducing metastasis and therapy resistance.