Fig. 6: SCAMs enhance tumor growth.

a Sorting strategies for RFP⁺ and RFP⁻ cells and downstream allograft and organoid models. b Tumor volumes from allografts (n = 3 independent tumors). c Images of tumors from transplants in b. d Representative images of organoid experiments. e Diagram of Cd11b⁺ and Cd11c⁺ column depletion strategies. f Flow cytometry analysis confirming depletion of Cd11b⁺ and Cd11c⁺ from tumor fractions before transplanting. g Tumor volumes from transplants into NOD SCID mice of control, Cd11b-depleted, and Cd11c-depleted tumor fractions (n = 4 independent tumors from 4 mice). h Trem2 neutralization strategies to target SCAMs in actively growing tumors. i Tumor volumes after Trem2 neutralizations (n = 5 independent tumors from 5 mice). j RNAScope analysis of Trem2 (green), Vcam1 (magenta), and K14-protein (white) in allografted tumors from mice treated with anti-IgG or anti-Trem2 antibodies. Boxes are indicating Trem2⁺ and/or Vcam1⁺ cells with two examples further zoomed in showing only the Trem2 signal. k Quantification of the Trem2/Vcam1 signal in cells in allografted tumors from mice treated with anti-IgG or anti-Trem2 antibodies. l Average number of Trem2⁺ and/or Vcam1⁺ cells in allografted tumors from mice treated with anti-IgG or anti-Trem2 antibodies. m PDO treatment strategies with anti-TREM2 and aPD1. n Flow cytometry analysis showing the levels of Apotracker Green in the EPCAM⁺ cells. o Fold change in ApoGreen percentage between anti-IgG and anti-TREM2 treated PDOs (n = 4 independent tumors). p Flow cytometry analysis of TREM2 on TREM2⁺ cells from Patient 1 and Patient 3. q Sorting strategies for SCAMs, Ly6d⁻, and Ly6d⁺ cells for organoid models. r The number of organoids from control and then experimental combinations of the Ly6d^- or Ly6d⁺ tumor epithelial fractions with or without SCAMs (n = 3 independent sorts/cultures from 3 independent tumors). s Represented images of organoids. Length of each scale bar is noted in figure. For k, l, n = 2 independent tumors. Error bars represent mean +/− SD. p values were calculated using paired, two-tailed t test. Source data are provided as a Source data file.