biostudies-literatureZhu BYouth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of SciencesNatural Science Foundation of ShanghaiNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae012044https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12336582biostudies-literatureUnknown13(8)<h4>Background</h4>Despite a series of attempts during the last decades, the prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains poor. Although clinical immunotherapy trials have shown encouraging results, their benefits are limited. This study aims to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in ESCC.<h4>Experimental design</h4>ESCC cell lines and mouse models were used to identify the tumor-promoting function of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor (PPDPF) and evaluate the effect of blockade of CD24. RNA sequencing was performed to profile transcriptomic changes upon PPDPF deficiency. Fluorescence microscopy-based phagocytosis assay and flow cytometry were employed to analyze macrophage phagocytosis. Immunoblotting, glutathione S-transferase-pullJournal for immunotherapy of cancerPPDPF promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via c-Myc/CD24 axis.PMC123365828217295023ZR14823002017324Liang XMa NLong LQiu XSZhu BDing KWang YKCao HJQiu LLi ZGXiang YJXia JHuang JYNi QZChen WXu SChen YZhang XRWang XLiu ZCLi JJZheng QWYao FfalsePPDPF promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via c-Myc/CD24 axis.<h4>Background</h4>Despite a series of attempts during the last decades, the prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains poor. Although clinical immunotherapy trials have shown encouraging results, their benefits are limited. This study aims to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in ESCC.<h4>Experimental design</h4>ESCC cell lines and mouse models were used to identify the tumor-promoting function of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor (PPDPF) and evaluate the effect of blockade of CD24. RNA sequencing was performed to profile transcriptomic changes upon PPDPF deficiency. Fluorescence microscopy-based phagocytosis assay and flow cytometry were employed to analyze macrophage phagocytosis. Immunoblotting, glutathione S-transferase-pull2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-07-15T06:26:40.749Z2026-07-01T03:07:11.154ZS-EPMC123365824077469310.1136/jitc-2025-012044