ArticleJournal of translational medicine2025
Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveal the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of cancer-associated fibroblasts in gastric cancer.
Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers.
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Who cites it
44 citing papers in PubMed.
- Metabolic heterogeneity and functional diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in gastric cancer (Review).Oncology letters · 2026Review
- Review
- Exploration and experimental verification of triaptosis-related prognostic genes and cells in gastric cancer.Molecular biology reports · 2026Article
- Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis and Machine Learning Identify THY1 as a Key Regulator of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Infiltration, Promoting Malignant Progression and Immune Escape in Gastric Cancer.Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2026Article
- Review
- Article
- A stromal-derived five-gene signature predicts gastric cancer recurrence through integrated bioinformatics and single-cell analysis.Translational cancer research · 2026Article
- Single-cell profiling reveals a novel CAF subpopulation linking stromal heterogeneity to immune suppression in breast cancer subtypes.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Integrated multi-omics and machine learning highlight PTM-related genes as potential biomarkers in endometrial cancer.Translational oncology · 2026Article
- Article
- Tumor Budding in Gastric Carcinoma: Beyond Counting Cells at the Invasive Front-A Review of Current Evidence and Biological Perspectives.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Helicobacter pylori-linked gene CFAP73 rewires epithelial programs and shapes the gastric cancer microenvironment.Discover oncology · 2026Article
- Review
- Integrative analysis of immune and microbial subtypes predicts immunotherapy response in stomach adenocarcinoma.Microbiology spectrum · 2026Article
- The research advances of crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor cells using co-culture organoids.Cell death & disease · 2026Review
- Mutation-Immune Crosstalk Contextualizes CAF-Associated ARPC1A Programs and Cisplatin Response in Gastric Cancer.Human mutation · 2026Article
- RFX5 in cancer: context-dependent molecular functions and emerging translational relevance.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- CENPM as a biomarker and therapeutic target for lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.Frontiers in genetics · 2026Article
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastrointestinal Cancer Metastasis: Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Review
- Spatial immune niches in gastric cancer immunotherapy resistance: mechanisms and translational implications.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
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7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundGastric cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are a key component of the TME, exhibit significant heterogeneity and play crucial roles in tumor progression. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of CAFs is essential for developing novel therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.
methodsThis study investigates the characteristics and functional information of CAF subtypes and explores the intercellular communication between CAFs and malignant epithelial cells (ECs) in gastric cancer by analyzing single-cell sequencing data from 24 gastric cancer samples. CellChat was employed to map intercellular communication, and Seurat was used to integrate single-cell sequencing data with spatial transcriptome data to reconstruct a comprehensive single-cell spatial map. The spatial relationship between apCAFs and cancer cells was analyzed using multicolor immunohistochemistry.
resultsCells were categorized into nine distinct categories, revealing a positive correlation between the proportions of epithelial cells (ECs) and fibroblasts. Furthermore, six fibroblast subpopulations were identified: inflammatory (iCAFs), pericytes, matrix (mCAFs), antigen-presenting (apCAFs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and proliferative CAFs (pCAFs). Each of these subpopulations was linked to various biological processes and immune responses. Malignant ECs exhibited heightened intercellular communication, particularly with CAF subpopulations, through specific ligand-receptor interactions. High-density regions of CAF subpopulations displayed spatial exclusivity, with pericytes serving as a source for iCAFs, mCAFs, and apCAFs. Notably, malignant ECs and apCAFs showed increased interactions, with certain ligand-receptor pairs potentially impacting the prognosis of gastric cancer. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) confirmed the close spatial proximity of apCAFs to cancer cells in gastric cancer.
conclusionOur study provided a comprehensive characterization of CAF heterogeneity in gastric cancer and revealed the intricate intercellular networks within the TME. The identified CAF subpopulations and their interactions with malignant cells could serve as potential therapeutic targets.
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