This study shows ecDNA-driven oncogene super-expressors create an immunoevasive tumor microenvironment in PDAC by promoting myCAF expansion and suppressing T cell infiltration.

bioRxiv · Nov 15, 2025 · PreprintCancer Biology

Single-cell resolution spatial analysis of antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblast niches

Xiongfeng Chen, Zhuan Zhou, Luyu Xie, Kailiang Qiao, Yiyue Jia, Si Liu, Zeynep Yazgan, Francesca Rossi, Yang Liu, Bo Zhang, Patricio Marcelo Polanco, Herbert J. Zeh, Alex C. Kim, Huocong Huang

Pan-cancer single-cell and spatial profiling resolves two antigen-presenting CAF lineages: tumor-adjacent mesothelial-like apCAFs and tertiary lymphoid structure-associated fibrocyte-like apCAFs, both secreting pro-tumorigenic SPP1.

Cancer Cell · Sep 25, 2025Peer-reviewedCancer Biology✦ In-depth digest

A spatial atlas of chemoradiation therapy in pancreatic cancer identifies cellular and microenvironmental determinants of persister populations

Vincent Bernard, Li-Ting Ku, Tianyu Wang, Ariana Acevedo-Diaz, Kimal Rajapakshe, Galia Jacobson, Daniela Tovar, Jimin Min, Guangsheng Pei, Candise L. Tat, Ayush Suresh, Ching-Wei David Tzeng, Matthew H. G. Katz, Manoop S. Bhutani, Huaming Wang, , Eugene Jon Koay

This study identifies cellular and microenvironmental factors contributing to radiation therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing.

bioRxiv · Jun 20, 2025 · PreprintCancer Biology

TWIST1 mediated transcriptional activation of SPON2 drives colorectal peritoneal metastasis through activation of cancer-associated fibroblast signaling network

Zhuan Zhou, Alessandro La Ferlita, Manoj H. Palavalli, Xiongfeng Chen, Lauren A. Tyler, Aslam M. Ejaz, Joal D. Beane, Patricio Marcelo Polanco, Huocong Huang, Alex C. Kim

This study identifies the SPP1-TWIST1-SPON2 signaling axis as a driver of colorectal peritoneal metastasis through cancer-associated fibroblast signaling.

bioRxiv · Apr 11, 2025 · PreprintCancer Biology