Smoking-Induced STC2⁺ Tumor Cells Drive Tumor-Vascular Crosstalk in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Spatial and Single-Cell Transcriptomics.

ABSTRACT: Smoking-associated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is characterized by high metastatic potential and poor prognosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics to explore the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment in smoking-associated LSCC. Thirteen distinct cellular subpopulations within the tumor microenvironment are identified, with STC2 and ITGA5 emerging as smoking-associated prognostic markers. STC2 exhibited bifurcated differentiation within tumor epithelial cells, categorized as Tumor_C1 and Tumor_C2. The two subtypes are linked to vascular permeability and DNA replication pathways, respectively. Mechanistically, nicotine activated the JAK2/STAT3

SUBMITTER: Shen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12849985 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature