Tumor-Derived CXCL10 and CCL20 Polarize the Immune Microenvironment in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma via Competitive Recruitment of Effector T Cells and Tregs.

ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) exhibits a heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) shaped by chemokine signaling, yet the functional roles of tumor-derived chemokines remain elusive. This study integrates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of NPC tissues with validation in 109 primary patient samples, revealing CXCL10 and CCL20 as tumor-secreted chemokines localized to distinct malignant epithelial subpopulations with antagonistic roles. CXCL10 correlates with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and enriches an immune-active TIME by recruiting CD8+ T cells and CD20+ B cells, whereas CCL20 associates with poor prognosis and immunosuppression through preferential recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Functional validation via in vitro chemotaxis assays and in vivo xe

SUBMITTER: Zhang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12701978 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature