High-CD14-expressing urothelial cancer cells foster a neutrophil-rich tumor microenvironment that increases the risk of radiation-promoted distant metastasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiation (RT)-promoted distant metastasis (DM) is an underrecognized complication that can compromise the therapeutic efficacy of local RT. This study aimed to identify tumor microenvironment (TME) traits that predispose to RT-promoted DM and provide mechanistic insights for potential therapeutic intervention.

Methods

We performed NanoString analysis on tumor samples from urothelial cancer patients to compare the TME profiles of those with and without RT-promoted DM. To complement clinical findings, we conducted RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of murine bladder cancer cell lines, MB49 (with RT-promoted DM) and MBT2 (without), followed by in vivo ectopic tumor modeling, flow cytometry of immune cell infiltrates, and cytokine array profiling.

Results

NanoString anal

SUBMITTER: Chiang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12765301 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature