Periostin⁺ cancer-associated fibroblasts promote lymph node metastasis by impairing the lymphatic endothelial barriers in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Lymph node metastasis (LNM), a critical prognostic determinant in cancer patients, is critically influenced by the presence of numerous heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment. However, the phenotypes and characteristics of the various pro-metastatic CAF subsets in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) remain unknown. Here, we describe a CAF subpopulation with elevated periostin expression (periostin⁺ CAFs), located in the primary tumor sites and metastatic lymph nodes, that positively correlated with LNM and poor survival in CSCC patients. Mechanistically, periostin⁺ CAFs impaired lymphatic endothelial barriers by activating the integrin-FAK/Src-VE-cadherin signaling pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells and consequently en

SUBMITTER: Wei WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7782076 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature