Protein translation dysregulation and immune cell evasion mediated by IFN and immunoproteasome downregulation define metastatic clones in HPV-related cancer of the oropharynx.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is increasing in prevalence, but the drivers of metastasis remain poorly understood, which impacts the ability to personalise management decisions. Much of the genomic research to date focuses on the HPV-negative population. Here, we utilise single-cell and spatial single-cell techniques to understand the drivers of metastasis.

Methods

Patients with HPV-positive OPC and cervical lymph node metastases treated with curative surgery had matched samples from the primary and lymph nodes collected for research. Single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell spatial sequencing (Visium) and in-situ spatial platforms were performed. Cancer clones were delineated using inferred copy number variation. Expression pheno

SUBMITTER: Chin VT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12522290 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature