Single cell analysis reveals that SPP1⁺ macrophages enhance tumor progression by triggering fibroblast extracellular vesicles.

ABSTRACT: Patients with liver metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have a poor prognosis and are the leading cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but the mechanisms associated with CRC metastasis have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we obtained data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and characterized the single-cell profiles of CRC, mCRC and healthy samples at single-cell resolution, and explored the cells that influence CRC metastasis. We find that AQP1⁺ CRC identified as highly malignant tumor cells exhibited proliferative and metastatic characteristics. Immunosuppressive properties are present in the tumor microenvironment (TME), while NOTCH3⁺ Fib is identified to play a facilitating role in the metastatic colonization of CRC. Importantly, we

SUBMITTER: Wang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11954126 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature