Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41791392›Full record

ArticleCell reports. Medicine2026

Spatial omics study reveals molecular-cellular dynamics of tumor ecosystem in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma initiation and progression.

Zhao Liu, Wenhao Zhou, Lei Li, Congcong Song, Meng Yue, Huilai Lv, Zhenhua Li, Minghao Zhang, Na Li, Jiaqian Wang and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports. Medicine, 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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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

13 authors.

Zhao LiuDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Wenhao ZhouKindstar Global Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Lei LiResearch Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China.
Congcong SongKindstar Global Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Meng YuePathology Department, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Huilai LvDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Zhenhua LiDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Minghao ZhangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
Na LiKindstar Global Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Jiaqian WangKindstar Global Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China.
Lianmei ZhaoResearch Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China. Electronic address: zhaolianmei@hbydsy.com.
Haitao LuoKindstar Global Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China. Electronic address: luoht1985@gmail.com.
Ziqiang TianDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China. Electronic address: tianziqiang@hebmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Deciphering the molecular and cellular dynamics during esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) evolution is critical for elucidating the underlying disease mechanisms and devising rational targeted therapeutic strategies. Here, we perform digital spatial profiling on 32 tissue samples from 18 patients across different ESCC stages. At ESCC initiation, tumor cells undergo coordinated regulation of epidermal development and keratinocyte differentiation, accompanied by increased B cells and decreased T cells. In late stages, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway is continuously upregulated, and tertiary lymphoid structures are dysregulated. We further verify these findings by multiplex immunofluorescence. Notably, the O-GlcNAc transferase gene, activated exclusively in late stages, correlates with poor prognosis, and its knockdown inhibits ESCC cell migration and invasion. In summary, this study unravels ESCC ecosystem evolution mechanisms via spatial omics, providing a roadmap for precision therapeutics.

Indexed as

Esophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaTumor MicroenvironmentCell Line, TumorCell MovementDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansN-AcetylglucosaminyltransferasesPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionN-AcetylglucosaminyltransferasesPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktdigital spatial profilingesophageal squamous cell carcinomaesophageal squamous precancerous lesionsO-GlcNAc transferasePI3K/AKT signalingspatial omicstertiary lymphoid structurestumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41791392
PMCPMC13006417

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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.