Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42426855›Full record

ArticleGenome medicine2026

Spatial ecology of breast cancer reveals co-evolution of proliferative and dormant niches.

Cenk Celik, William A Weston, Thais de Moraes-Lacerda, Eloise Withnell, Shi Pan, Tooki Chu, John Labbadia, Alexis R Barr, Maria Secrier

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Genome 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.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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

9 authors.

Cenk CelikUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8301-0172
William A WestonCell Cycle Control Team, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0HS, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-9031-1681
Thais de Moraes-LacerdaCell Cycle Control Team, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0HS, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9529-3349
Eloise WithnellUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7368-5149
Shi PanUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4321-9745
Tooki ChuUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-3344-0336
John LabbadiaInstitute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9625-2816
Alexis R BarrCell Cycle Control Team, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0HS, UK. a.barr@lms.mrc.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6684-8114
Maria SecrierUCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. m.secrier@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2758-1741

Funding

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/R01356X/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/T013273/1,BB/W014890/1Medical Research Council MR/T042184/1, MR/Y034031/1Medical Research Council MR/W006774/1MRC LMS core funding MCA658-5TY60Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 218529/Z/19/Z, 204841/Z/16/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer progression involves not only uncontrolled proliferation but also the strategic entry of tumour cells into reversible (quiescent) or irreversible (senescent) states of cell cycle arrest (G0). These states can give rise to rare persister-like cancer cells that survive hostile tumour microenvironment conditions, facilitating drug resistance, metastasis and disease relapse. Despite their importance, identifying and understanding the mechanisms regulating these cell populations remains challenging.

methodsWe leveraged single-cell and spatially profiled primary breast tumours to quantify G0 arrest and proliferation decisions in cancer cells, revealing molecular and spatial features associated with proliferation-G0 dynamics.

resultsWe uncovered a G0 persister-like state with reduced copy number alteration burden and hallmarks of dormancy, characterised by transcriptional reprogramming of stress response pathways and increased epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. Spatial analyses revealed distinct ecological niches: G0 cells inhabited protective niches with complement pathway activity proximal to CXCL10+ macrophages and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), whereas proliferative zones were associated with CLEC9A+ dendritic cells and PERK signalling, with distinct drug sensitivities.

conclusionsOur findings highlight key principles underpinning G0-proliferation dynamics and niche specialisation in breast cancer, offering novel insights into the spatial drivers of tumour heterogeneity and evolution.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentCell ProliferationFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansBreast cancerG0 persister cellsQuiescenceSpatial transcriptomicsTumour dormancyTumour microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42426855
PMCPMC13632142

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.