Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40307786›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Single-cell sequencing unveils the transcriptomic landscape of castration-resistant prostate cancer-associated fibroblasts and their association with prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Yifeng Qiu, Yuhan Wang, Jiahe Liu, Kai Sun, Baohua Liu, Qi Hou

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Molecular Mechanisms and Immune Regulation in Prostate Cancer: A Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Cytokines and cancer-associated fibroblasts.Journal of hematology & oncology · 2026
    Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yifeng QiuGuangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical school, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
Yuhan WangGuangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical school, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
Jiahe LiuGuangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical school, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
Kai SunDepartment of Radiology, the Third People's Hospital of Longgang District, Shenzhen, China.
Baohua LiuShenzhen Key Laboratory for Systemic Aging and Intervention (SAI), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Human Disease Prevention, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Shenzhen), International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. ppliew@szu.edu.cn.
Qi HouDepartment of Urology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. qi_hou@foxmail.com.

Funding

Disciple gathering teaching project of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen Key Laboratory Foundation ZDSYS20200811143757022Educational Reform Research Project of Clinical Teaching Base of Guangdong Province 2021JD207Key Project of Medical and health technology of Longgang District, Shenzhen LGKCYLWS2022034Medical and Health Science and Technology Project (support) of Longgang District, Shenzhen LGKCYLWS2021000032National Natural Science Foundation of China 82002716Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen University General Hospital SUGH2020QD005Shenzhen International Cooperation Research Project GJHZ20220913143004008Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20190808164209301Shenzhen Scientific Research Foundation for Excellent Returned Scholars 000493Teaching Reform Research Project of Shenzhen University YXBJG202339
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe tumor microenvironment (TME) is increasingly acknowledged as a determinant in the malignant transformation and progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as a pivotal stromal cellular component in TME, are implicated in tumor progression and immune escape. However, the molecular characteristics and biological functions of CRPC-CAFs in prostate cancer necessitate further investigation.

methodsWe ascertained the differential transcriptomic profiles between CRPC-CAFs and PCa-CAFs through single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). Bulk RNA-seq data were employed to assess the prognostic implications of CRPC-CAFs in PCa. In addition, we examined the impact of CRPC-CAFs on the efficacy of immunotherapy and the composition of the tumor immune milieu. Furthermore, a subcutaneous PCa model was applied to determine the potential of TGF-β signaling blockade to augment the response to immunotherapeutic interventions.

resultsWe observed a pronounced increase in the proportion of CAFs in CRPC compared to those in primary PCa. The functional pathways implicated in TGF-β signaling and ECM remodeling were remarkably upregulated in CRPC-CAFs. Moreover, gene regulatory network analysis uncovered substantial differences in the transcription factor activity profiles between CRPC-CAFs and PCa-CAFs. The elevated CRPC-CAFs abundance was associated with diminished recurrence-free survival and immunotherapy insensitivity. Substantially elevated infiltration of inhibitory immune cells and upregulated expression levels of immunosuppressive molecules were observed in patients with high CRPC-CAFs abundance. Importantly, administration of anti-TGF-β therapy remarkably potentiated the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy through upregulating the anti-tumor immune response in the PCa model.

conclusionOur results highlighted the impact of CRPC-CAFs on clinical prognosis and immunosuppressive tumor milieu, indicating that CRPC-CAFs may function as a promising therapeutic target for CRPC.

Indexed as

Cancer-Associated FibroblastsProstatic Neoplasms, Castration-ResistantTranscriptomeAnimalsGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGene Regulatory NetworksHumansImmunotherapyMaleMicePrognosisSingle-Cell AnalysisTransforming Growth Factor betaTumor MicroenvironmentTransforming Growth Factor betaCancer-associated fibroblastsCastration-resistant prostate cancerClinical outcomesImmune infiltrationSingle-cell RNA-sequencing

Identifiers

PMID40307786
PMCPMC12044937

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.