Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and proliferation play important roles in epithelial cancer formation and progression,but what molecules and how they trigger EMT is largely unknown.Here we performed spatial tran...Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and proliferation play important roles in epithelial cancer formation and progression,but what molecules and how they trigger EMT is largely unknown.Here we performed spatial transcriptomic and functional analyses on samples of multistage esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma(ESCC)from mice and humans to decipher these critical issues.By investigating spatiotemporal gene expression patterns and cell–cell interactions,we demonstrated that the aberrant epithelial cell interaction via EFNB1-EPHB4 triggers EMT and cell cycle mediated by downstream SRC/ERK/AKT signaling.The aberrant epithelial cell interaction occurs within the basal layer at early precancerous lesions,which expands to the whole epithelial layer and strengthens along the cancer development and progression.Functional analysis revealed that the aberrant EFNB1-EPHB4 interaction is caused by overexpressedΔNP63 due to TP53 mutation,the culprit in human ESCC tumorigenesis.Our results shed new light on the role of TP53-TP63/ΔNP63-EFNB1-EPHB4 axis in EMT and cell proliferation in epithelial cancer formation.展开更多
Tumorigenesis is a multistep process,with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event.However,despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues,their ...Tumorigenesis is a multistep process,with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event.However,despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues,their transformation into cancer remains a rare event,indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible,highly heterogeneous,and invasive lesion.Recently,researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution,independently of inducing mutations.Additionally,clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay between cell-intrinsic identities and various cell-extrinsic factors that exert selective pressures to either restrain uncontrolled proliferation or allow specific clones to progress into tumors.However,the mechanisms by which driver events induce both intrinsic cellular competency and remodel environmental stress to facilitate malignant transformation are not fully understood.In this review,we summarize the genetic,epigenetic,and external driver events,and their effects on the co-evolution of the transformed cells and their ecosystem during tumor initiation and early malignant evolution.A deeper understanding of the earliest molecular events holds promise for translational applications,predicting individuals at high-risk of tumor and developing strategies to intercept malignant transformation.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81988101 to D.L.and to C.W.)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2501000 to D.L.)+1 种基金Medical and Health Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(2021-I2M-1-013 to D.L.and to C.W.,2022-I2M-2-003 and 2022-I2M-JB-002 to D.L.)Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program(BJJWZYJH01201910023027 to C.W.).
文摘Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and proliferation play important roles in epithelial cancer formation and progression,but what molecules and how they trigger EMT is largely unknown.Here we performed spatial transcriptomic and functional analyses on samples of multistage esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma(ESCC)from mice and humans to decipher these critical issues.By investigating spatiotemporal gene expression patterns and cell–cell interactions,we demonstrated that the aberrant epithelial cell interaction via EFNB1-EPHB4 triggers EMT and cell cycle mediated by downstream SRC/ERK/AKT signaling.The aberrant epithelial cell interaction occurs within the basal layer at early precancerous lesions,which expands to the whole epithelial layer and strengthens along the cancer development and progression.Functional analysis revealed that the aberrant EFNB1-EPHB4 interaction is caused by overexpressedΔNP63 due to TP53 mutation,the culprit in human ESCC tumorigenesis.Our results shed new light on the role of TP53-TP63/ΔNP63-EFNB1-EPHB4 axis in EMT and cell proliferation in epithelial cancer formation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81988101 to D.L.and to C.W.,82203156 to S.Z.)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2501000 to D.L.,2023YFC3503200 to S.Z.)+1 种基金Medical and Health Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(2021-I2M-1-013 to D.L.and to C.W.,2022-I2M-2-003 to D.L.)Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program(BJJWZYJH01201910023027 to C.W.).
文摘Tumorigenesis is a multistep process,with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event.However,despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues,their transformation into cancer remains a rare event,indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible,highly heterogeneous,and invasive lesion.Recently,researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution,independently of inducing mutations.Additionally,clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay between cell-intrinsic identities and various cell-extrinsic factors that exert selective pressures to either restrain uncontrolled proliferation or allow specific clones to progress into tumors.However,the mechanisms by which driver events induce both intrinsic cellular competency and remodel environmental stress to facilitate malignant transformation are not fully understood.In this review,we summarize the genetic,epigenetic,and external driver events,and their effects on the co-evolution of the transformed cells and their ecosystem during tumor initiation and early malignant evolution.A deeper understanding of the earliest molecular events holds promise for translational applications,predicting individuals at high-risk of tumor and developing strategies to intercept malignant transformation.
