Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity Shapes Prognosis and Immune Landscapes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a biologically heterogeneous malignancy with poor outcomes in advanced disease. Increasing evidence indicates that the tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), plays an important role in tumor progression and immune regulation. However, the diversity of CAF subsets and their clinical relevance in HNSCC remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize CAF heterogeneity and assess the prognostic significance of CAF subset-specific transcriptional programs. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing data from HNSCC tumors were analyzed to identify CAF subsets based on differentially expressed genes. CAF subset-specific gene signatures were used to construct p

SUBMITTER: Takahashi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12838901 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature