Using integrated single-cell multi-omics and spatial analysis, this study identifies a PRRX1-driven GPR116⁺ pericyte subpopulation that promotes tumor metastasis and immune evasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, offering a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic strategies.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the awards R37CA237022, R01DE033648, 1R01DK135562 and P30CA014089 (D.-C.L.), and Watt Family Endowed Chair for Head and Neck Cancer Research (U.K.S.).
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Sinha, U.K., Park, Y.M. & Lin, DC. A high-power spatial, single-cell view of pericytes in esophageal cancer metastasis. Nat Genet 57, 2350–2351 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02318-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02318-8