# The double-positive cells in the tumor microenvironment

**Authors:** Xinmiao Long, Yinfei Du, Yinan Li, Fan Guan, Shiyi Wang, Meng Huang, Minghua Wu

PMC · DOI: 10.1515/jtim-2026-0002 · Journal of Translational Internal Medicine · 2026-02-13

## TL;DR

This review explores double-positive cells in the tumor environment and their role in cancer progression and treatment resistance.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the formation, function, and clinical relevance of double-positive cells in tumors.

## Key findings

- Double-positive cells contribute to tumor invasiveness and immune evasion.
- They play a role in promoting drug resistance in cancer.
- Targeting these cells may lead to new cancer therapies.

## Abstract

The tumor microenvironment substantially influences cancer progression by mediating complex interactions between immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal cells. Recent studies have identified a critical component of this ecosystem, double-positive cells (DPCs), which are characterized by simultaneously expressing two markers that are traditionally confined to completely different cell lineages or cell types. In this review, we demonstrated DPCs' formation principles, characterization, classification, functions, and clinical significance. We underscore the multifaceted contributions of DPCs in enhancing tumor invasiveness, facilitating immune evasion, and promoting drug resistance. Understanding the significance of targeting DPCs could open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in cancer treatment.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MMP13 (matrix metallopeptidase 13) [NCBI Gene 4322] {aka CLG3, MANDP1, MDST, MMP-13}, CD276 (CD276 molecule) [NCBI Gene 100153704], VIM (vimentin) [NCBI Gene 7431], HAVCR2 (hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 84868] {aka CD366, HAVcr-2, KIM-3, SPTCL, TIM3, TIMD-3}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}, CCL2 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 397422] {aka MCP-1}, SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1) [NCBI Gene 6696] {aka BNSP, BSPI, ETA-1, OPN}, GZMH (granzyme H) [NCBI Gene 2999] {aka CCP-X, CGL-2, CSP-C, CTLA1, CTSGL2}, TIMD4 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4) [NCBI Gene 91937] {aka SMUCKLER, TIM4}, CD163 (CD163 molecule) [NCBI Gene 9332] {aka M130, MM130, SCARI1}, CCL22 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 22) [NCBI Gene 6367] {aka A-152E5.1, ABCD-1, DC/B-CK, MDC, SCYA22, STCP-1}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 396991], PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 5133] {aka ADMIO4, AIMTBS, CD279, PD-1, PD1, SLEB2}, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 6347] {aka GDCF-2, HC11, HSMCR30, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1}, CCL8 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 100302703], GNLY (granulysin) [NCBI Gene 10578] {aka D2S69E, LAG-2, LAG2, NKG5, TLA519}, CD276 (CD276 molecule) [NCBI Gene 80381] {aka 4Ig-B7-H3, B7-H3, B7H3, B7RP-2}, MMP3 (matrix metallopeptidase 3) [NCBI Gene 4314] {aka CHDS6, MMP-3, SL-1, STMY, STMY1, STR1}, SLA-DRB1 (MHC class II histocompatibility antigen SLA-DRB1) [NCBI Gene 100153386] {aka DRB1, LA-DRB-c, LA-DRB-d, SLA-DRB, SLADRB}, ZEB1 (zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1) [NCBI Gene 6935] {aka AREB6, BZP, DELTAEF1, FECD6, NIL2A, PPCD3}, GZMH (granzyme H (cathepsin G-like 2, protein h-CCPX)) [NCBI Gene 100152450], S100A8 (S100 calcium binding protein A8) [NCBI Gene 6279] {aka 60B8AG, CAGA, CFAG, CGLA, CP-10, L1Ag}, PTPRC (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 5788] {aka B220, CD45, CD45R, GP180, IMD105, L-CA}, KRT20 (keratin 20) [NCBI Gene 54474] {aka CD20, CK-20, CK20, K20, KRT21}, FCGR1A (Fc gamma receptor Ia) [NCBI Gene 2209] {aka CD64, CD64A, FCG1, FCGR1, FCRI, FcgammaRI}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, ZBTB7B (zinc finger and BTB domain containing 7B) [NCBI Gene 51043] {aka CKROX, THPOK, ZBTB15, ZFP-67, ZFP67, ZNF857B}, CSF3 (colony stimulating factor 3) [NCBI Gene 1440] {aka C17orf33, CSF3OS, GCSF}, IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, GNLY (granulysin) [NCBI Gene 396869] {aka NKL}, SOX2 (SRY-box transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 6657] {aka ANOP3, MCOPS3}, MYC (MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 4609] {aka MRTL, MYCC, bHLHe39, c-Myc}, HLA-DRA (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR alpha) [NCBI Gene 3122] {aka HLA-DRA1}, ADGRB1 (adhesion G protein-coupled receptor B1) [NCBI Gene 575] {aka BAI1, GDAIF}, FGFBP2 (fibroblast growth factor binding protein 2) [NCBI Gene 83888] {aka HBP17RP, KSP37}, CCL8 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 6355] {aka HC14, MCP-2, MCP2, SCYA10, SCYA8}, VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 7422] {aka L-VEGF, MVCD1, VEGF, VPF}, SIRT1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 23411] {aka SIR2, SIR2L1, SIR2alpha}, HLA-DRB2 (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 2 (pseudogene)) [NCBI Gene 3124] {aka HLA-DR2B}, STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 6772] {aka CANDF7, IMD31A, IMD31B, IMD31C, ISGF-3, STAT91}, TRBV20OR9-2 (T cell receptor beta variable 20/OR9-2 (non-functional)) [NCBI Gene 6962] {aka CDR3, TCRBV20S2, TCRBV2O, TCRBV2S2O}, CCL5 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) [NCBI Gene 6352] {aka D17S136E, RANTES, SCYA5, SIS-delta, SISd, TCP228}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 404704], STING1 (stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1) [NCBI Gene 340061] {aka ERIS, MITA, MPYS, NET23, SAVI, STING}, IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 397225], CCL3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3) [NCBI Gene 6348] {aka G0S19-1, LD78, LD78ALPHA, MIP-1-alpha, MIP1A, SCI}, SLA-5 (MHC class I antigen 5) [NCBI Gene 100135029] {aka PG3I, SLA-1, SLA-5b}, ARF1 (ARF GTPase 1) [NCBI Gene 375] {aka PVNH8}, FOXP3 (forkhead box P3) [NCBI Gene 444998], CD68 (CD68 molecule) [NCBI Gene 968] {aka GP110, LAMP4, SCARD1}, GRP (gastrin releasing peptide) [NCBI Gene 2922] {aka BN, GRP-10, preproGRP, proGRP}, CSF3 (colony stimulating factor 3) [NCBI Gene 396839] {aka G-CSF}, MMP2 (matrix metallopeptidase 2) [NCBI Gene 4313] {aka CLG4, CLG4A, MMP-2, MMP-II, MONA, TBE-1}, CD80 (CD80 molecule) [NCBI Gene 941] {aka B7, B7-1, B7.1, BB1, CD28LG, CD28LG1}, ICAM1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 3383] {aka BB2, CD54, P3.58}, TNFRSF9 (TNF receptor superfamily member 9) [NCBI Gene 3604] {aka 4-1BB, CD137, CDw137, ILA, IMD109}, ANXA1 (annexin A1) [NCBI Gene 301] {aka ANX1, LPC1}, CD83 (CD83 molecule) [NCBI Gene 9308] {aka BL11, HB15}, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4) [NCBI Gene 397286], POU5F1 (POU class 5 homeobox 1) [NCBI Gene 5460] {aka OCT3, OCT4, OCT4Borf1, OTF-3, OTF3, OTF4}
- **Diseases:** lung cancer (MESH:D008175), cancer (MESH:D009369), cutaneous T cell lymphoma (MESH:D016410), DPCs (MESH:C563822), inflammation (MESH:D007249), prostate cancer (MESH:D011471), melanoma (MESH:D008545), glioma (MESH:D005910), non-small cell lung cancer (MESH:D002289), -NK (MESH:D000077428), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), systemic sclerosis (MESH:D012595), kidney cancer (MESH:D007680), tumorigenesis (MESH:D063646), epithelial ovarian cancer (MESH:D000077216), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (MESH:D003586), TAM (MESH:D020914), CHCs (MESH:D009360), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), infection (MESH:D007239), T (MESH:D001260), BM disorders (MESH:D001855), Immune (MESH:D007154), endometrial cancer (MESH:D016889), breast and ovarian cancer (MESH:D061325), tumorigenic (MESH:D002471), leukemia (MESH:D007938), colorectal cancer (MESH:D015179), cerebral hemorrhage (MESH:D002543), ascites (MESH:D001201), bone metastasis (MESH:D009362), urological cancers (MESH:D014571), GBM (MESH:D005909), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (MESH:D000077274), hepatocellular carcinoma (MESH:D006528), TAMs (MESH:D000072716), esophageal cancer (MESH:D004938), ovarian cancer (MESH:D010051), breast cancer (MESH:D001943)
- **Chemicals:** phospholipid (MESH:D010743), PS (MESH:D010718), DPCs (-), calcium (MESH:D002118), lipid (MESH:D008055), LPS (MESH:D008070)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (no rank) [taxon 11676], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Human immunodeficiency virus (species) [taxon 12721], Portulaca oleracea (species) [taxon 46147]
- **Cell lines:** MDA-MB-231 — Homo sapiens (Human), Breast adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0062), SK-OV-3 — Homo sapiens (Human), Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0532)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916280/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916280/full.md

## References

181 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916280/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12916280