Integrated analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq reveals distinct cancer-associated fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been widely acknowledged, but has not yet been elucidated. The potential roles and clinical relevance of CAFs subclusters in HNSCC progression remain obscure.

Methods

In this study, we combined single-cell and bulk tissue transcriptome profiles of HNSCC with clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The Seurat package was used to perform single-cell RNA-seq analysis to distinguish distinct CAFs subtypes. Prognostic relevance of several CAFs markers was assessed and functional analysis was also performed.

Results

We identified eight CAFs subclusters; of these, seven showed enhanced expression levels in HNSCC tumor tissues compared to

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8267303 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature