Resistance to anoikis (matrix deprivation-induced apoptosis) is a critical component of the metastatic cascade. Molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to anoikis have not been reported in @entity259 cells. For an in vitro model of anoikis, we cultured follicular, papillary, and @entity259 cell lines on @entity23820 -treated low-adherent plates. We also performed immunohistochemical analysis of @entity1 @entity5 cells that had infiltrated blood and/or lymphatic vessels. Matrix deprivation was associated with establishment of contacts between floating @entity259 cells and formation of multi-cellular spheroids. This process was associated with activation of gap junctional transfer. Increased expression of the gap junction molecule @entity495 was found in papillary and anaplastic @entity5 cells forming spheroids. All non-adherent @entity5 cells showed a lower proliferation rate compared with adherent cells but were more resistant to serum deprivation. @entity584 was constitutively activated in @entity5 cells forming spheroids. Inhibition of gap junctional transfer through @entity495 silencing, or by treatment with the gap junction disruptor @entity8743 , resulted in loss of pAKT and induction of apoptosis in a cell-type-specific manner. In @entity1 thyroid tissue, @entity5 cells that had infiltrated blood vessels showed morphological similarity to @entity5 cells forming spheroids in vitro. Intra-vascular @entity5 cells demonstrated prominent @entity584 activation in @entity5 . Increased @entity495 immunoreactivity was observed only in intra-vascular papillary @entity5 cells. Our data demonstrate that establishment of inter-cellular communication contributes to @entity259 cell resistance to anoikis. These findings suggest that disruption of gap junctional transfer could represent a potential therapeutic strategy for prevention of @entity3 .

Inhibition of gap junction transfer sensitizes XXXX cells to anoikis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity8743 :: ('MESH:D002229', 'Chemical') :: ['carbenoxolone'] @entity495 :: ('2697', 'Gene') :: ['Connexin43'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer', 'papillary and follicular cancers'] @entity584 :: ('207', 'Gene') :: ['AKT'] @entity23820 :: ('MESH:C056971|MESH:D011102', 'Chemical') :: ['poly-HEMA'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity259 :: ('MESH:D013964', 'Disease') :: ['anaplastic thyroid cancer', 'thyroid cancer']
@entity259 :: (MESH:D013964,Disease) :: ['thyroid cancer']
