Loss of Gαq reshapes fibroblast traits and drives tumor-stroma remodeling in oral cancer progression

ABSTRACT: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options and poor outcomes. A key driver of tumor progression is the tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts, which remodel the extracellular matrix and secrete pro-tumorigenic signals. Emerging evidence suggests that vesicle trafficking pathways regulate these secretory functions, though their role in HNSCC remains unclear. Building on our discovery of Gαq as an autophagy regulator, we investigated how its absence reshapes fibroblast behavior and modulates crosstalk with HNSCC cells. We demonstrate that loss of Gαq reprograms murine fibroblasts into a CAF-like phenotype through deregulated intracellular trafficking and increased ceramide accumulation. Gαq-deficient fibrobla

SUBMITTER: Catalina Ribas 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00751-2 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other