Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40312694›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Integrated analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq unravels the molecular feature of tumor-associated neutrophils of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Haiyang Cui, Zhikai Li, Yukun Liu, Yuchuan Yang, Linkuan Huangfu, Jinglin Kong, Xiaocong Sun, Shibo Gao, Daoke Yang, Yingjuan Zheng

Abstract read
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 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
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  5. Article
  6. Neutrophils: emerging perspectives on the pathogenesis of oral mucosal diseases.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025
    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

10 authors.

Haiyang Cui *Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Zhikai Li *Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Yukun LiuDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Yuchuan YangDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Linkuan HuangfuDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Jinglin KongDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Xiaocong SunDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Shibo GaoDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Daoke YangDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China. 15903650068@163.com.
Yingjuan ZhengDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China. zdyfyzlyy@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a lethal malignancy with a high recurrence and distant metastasis rate, posing significant challenges to patient prognosis. Recent studies suggest that tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) can modulate immune cell infiltration and influence tumor initiation and progression. However, the potential clinical significance of TANs in HNSCC remains insufficiently explored.

methodsTANs-specific marker genes were identified via single-cell sequencing data from HNSCC. Based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a prognostic risk model was constructed using TANs cell marker genes, and the model was validated with data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The associations between the TANs signature and clinical characteristics, functional pathways, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, and responses to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, were then investigated. Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8), Transwell, and wound healing assays were conducted to assess the functional role of TANs marker molecules.

resultsTANs characteristic genes were identified from single-cell sequencing data from HNSCC patients. On the basis of these characteristic genes, a tumor-associated neutrophils-associated signature (NRS) was developed and validated across internal and external cross-platform cohorts through comprehensive procedures. The NRS demonstrated robust and reliable performance in predicting overall survival. Additionally, patients with a low NRS showed enhanced immune cell infiltration, active lipid metabolism, and increased sensitivity to immunotherapy. In contrast, patients with a high NRS exhibited poor prognostic outcomes, advanced clinical stages, and significant associations with HNSCC metastasis and progression. Furthermore, we identified a TANs-associated biomarker, OLR1, and validated that OLR1 promotes HNSCC proliferation, invasion, and migration through CCK-8, Transwell invasion, and wound healing assays.

conclusionThis study has developed a promising TANs-based tool that may aid in personalized treatment and prognostic management for patients with HNSCC.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorHead and Neck NeoplasmsNeutrophilsRNA-SeqSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisSingle-Cell AnalysisSingle-Cell Gene Expression AnalysisBiomarkers, TumorHead and neck squamous cell carcinomaOLR1Single-cell RNA sequencingTumor-associated neutrophils

Identifiers

PMID40312694
PMCPMC12046871

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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.