We investigated heterogeneity of tumorigenic capacity in KrasG12D and KrasG12D; Trp53 fl/fl mouse models of non-small cell lung cancer. Loss of Trp53 greatly enhances self-renewal in vitro and tumor propagating capacity in vivo. A conserved set of markers including CD24, ITGB4 and Notch enriches for a rare population of tumor initiating cells (TICs) in tumors driven by oncogenic Kras regardless of disease stage, or the presence or absence of Trp53. Notch marks TICs and Notch signaling is also required for their self-renewal and tumor propagating capacity. Using primary human NSCLC ex vivo cultures, we demonstrate a role for Notch signaling in the self-renewal of human tumor cells. Using multiple methods of Notch3 specific inhibition we demonstrate a Trp53-independent role for Notch3 in the maintenance of TICs in mouse lung tumor models.

Citation Format: Yanyan Zheng, Cecile de la Cruz, Leanne C. Sayles, Chris Alleyn-Chin, Tim D. Knaak, Marty Bigos, Yue Xu, Chuong D Hoang, Joseph Shrager, E. Alejandro Sweet-Cordero, Erica L. Jackson,. Notch defines the tumor initiating cell in non-small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr ED02-02.