Metabolic expression profiling analysis reveals pyruvate-mediated EPHB2 upregulation promotes lymphatic metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

ABSTRACT: Lymphatic metastasis is a well-known factor for initiating distant metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which caused major death in most patients with cancer. Meanwhile, metabolic reprogramming to support metastasis is regarded as a prominent hallmark of cancers. However, how metabolic disorders drive in HNSCC remains unclear. We firstly established a new classification of HNSCC patients based on metabolism gene expression profiles from the TCGA and GEO database, and identified an enriched carbohydrate metabolism subgroup which was significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis and worse clinical outcome. Moreover, we found that highly activated pyruvate metabolism endowed tumors with EPHB2 upregulation and promoted tumor lymphangiogenesis independently of VEGF-

SUBMITTER: Miao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11899055 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature