All SCLC CTCs are CD24-positive but lack expression of CD44 and ABCG2 in contrast to the SCLC tumor lines which show a phenotype more similar to that of CSCs.
Preclinical studies in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have shown that hyaluronic acid (HA) can be effectively used to deliver chemotherapy and selectively decrease CD44 expressing (stem cell-like) tumour cells.
Co-expression of CD90 further narrowed down the putative stem cell population in PLCCLs from SCLC and LCC as spheroid-forming cells were mainly found within the CD44(high)CD90(+) sub-population.