Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41327620›Full record

ArticleRecent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery2026

A Metastasis-competent CAF Subpopulation Defined by

Yongqiang Huang, Yu Wang, Wei Zhang, Wenfeng Wang, Leilei Du, Xingming Zhang, Wenhao Xu, Jianghua Zheng, Guohai Shi, Jianhua Wang

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Article in Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yongqiang HuangCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yu WangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
Wei ZhangCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Wenfeng WangCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Leilei DuCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Xingming ZhangCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Wenhao XuCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Jianghua ZhengCentral Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389 Xincun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China.
Guohai ShiDepartment of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Jianhua WangCancer Institute, Shanghai Urological Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Funding

Shanghai Hospital Development Center SHDC2025CCS007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), contributes to prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis, however, the role of CAF heterogeneity remains incompletely characterized. The study aims to identify and functionally characterize a metastasis-competent CAF subpopulation in PCa and evaluate its potential as a biomarker for predicting metastatic progression.

methodsWe integrated single-cell RNA sequencing data from 1,214 CAFs across 14 PCa specimens. Metastasis-derived CAFs were functionally validated in vitro. Stromal marker expression was assessed by multiplex immunofluorescence in 78 PCa tissues samples.

resultsA 20-gene signature stratified CAFs into three subsets, with the MFAP5-expressing subset (CAFa) enriched in metastatic patients. Co-expression of MFAP5 and THY1 specifically identified CAFa with 96.2% specificity. MFAP5 secretion was associated with AKT phosphorylation, Slug upregulation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Stromal MFAP5⁺THY1⁺ colocalization predicted postoperative metastasis risk independently of Gleason score (multivariate HR = 5.69, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Our findings establish stromal MFAP5⁺THY1⁺ co-localization as a potential prognostic biomarker that could complement Gleason scoring. Further validation in multi-center cohorts is required to confirm its clinical independence.

conclusionWe identified a metastasis-competent CAF subpopulation defined by MFAP5⁺THY1⁺ co-expression, where THY1 serves as a spatial anchor for MFAP5 detection and MFAP5 secretion is functionally linked to AKT/EMT pathway activation.

Indexed as

Cancer-Associated FibroblastsEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionNeoplasm MetastasisProstatic NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorContractile ProteinsExtracellular MatrixGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMalePC-3 CellsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSnail Family Transcription FactorsThy-1 AntigensBiomarkers, TumorContractile ProteinsIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMFAP5 protein, humanProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSNAI1 protein, humanSnail Family Transcription FactorsThy-1 AntigensTHY1 protein, humancancer-associated fibroblastsepithelial-mesenchymal transitionmetastasisMFAP5prognostic biomarkerProstate cancer

Identifiers

PMID41327620

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