Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a major global health burden, with its high metastatic potential and heterogeneous metastatic sites serving as critical determinants of postoperative survival outcomes. While recent research has elucidated the involvement of ncRNAs in the metastatic progression of HCC, the precise mechanisms underlying their regulation within the tumor immune microenvironment remain incompletely understood. This study employs cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics to investigate the spatial dynamics of these interactions in HCC.

Aims & Methods

To define the role of ncRNAs in facilitating metastasis within the HCC, we selected key ncRNAs for further investigation through BLAST homology analysis and differential expression profiling between primary and metastatic liver cancer specimens. Subsequently, utilizing spatial single-cell transcriptomic data, we conducted cell-cell communication and neighborhood analysis to explore the complex interactions among tumor cells, immune cells, and stromal cells.

Results

Our findings reveal that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor metastasis through exosome-mediated communication with tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), driving epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhancing the migratory and invasive capacities of cancer cells. Specifically, through the spatial interaction map, we identified hsa-miR-548d-5p and POT1-AS1 as critical molecular nodes involved in the metastatic process. Tumor cells exposed to both CAFs and TAMs exhibited significantly altered gene expression profiles that favored metastasis, with CAF-derived signals priming TAMs to release pro-metastatic factors that ultimately reprogrammed neighboring cancer cells. Furthermore, we validated our findings through transwell experiments and analysis of ncRNA sequencing.

Conclusion

This study utilized spatial transcriptomics to elucidate how CAFs influence tumor cells and TAMs through exosome-mediated ncRNA signaling, promoting EMT and enhancing the migratory and invasive potential of tumor cells. These findings suggest novel therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs and their interactions with TAMs, providing new avenues for optimizing HCC immunotherapy.

Introduction

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major global health burden and is especially prevalent in East Asia. While tumor-intrinsic genetic alterations have been well studied, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a key driver of cancer progression. Among the components of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play diverse roles in tumor growth, invasion, and therapy resistance. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms that regulate CAF function remain poorly defined. In particular, the role of YAP1 signaling and its upstream and downstream mediators in CAFs is not fully understood.

Aims & Methods

We aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism and function of the NF-κB/YAP1/COL12A1 axis in CAFs and its role in gastric cancer progression. To achieve this, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing, multiplex immunohistochemistry, western blotting, CHIP-qPCR, and luciferase reporter assays. CAFs were isolated from gastric cancer tissues and subjected to in vitro manipulation, including YAP1 and COL12A1 knockdown or overexpression. Patient-derived organoids and mouse xenograft models were used to assess tumor-promoting capabilities. Additionally, conditional knockout (CKO) mice were utilized to examine the impact of YAP1 deletion on collagen expression in vivo.

Results

YAP1 was found to be highly active in matrix-producing CAFs (matCAFs), a subtype associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Co-culture of fibroblasts with H. pylori revealed activation of NF-κB, which in turn directly upregulated YAP1 expression. CHIP-qPCR and luciferase assays confirmed NF-κB binding to the YAP1 promoter. YAP1 knockdown in CAFs impaired proliferation and invasion and promoted cellular senescence. COL12A1 was identified as a direct downstream target of YAP1 via CHIP-seq, and its expression was positively correlated with YAP1 in human samples. Functional studies revealed that COL12A1 deletion significantly reduced CAF viability and invasiveness, and impaired the growth and migration of co-cultured gastric cancer cells. In patient-derived organoid and in vivo models, COL12A1 promoted tumor growth and metastasis. Integrin α1/β1 was identified as a potential COL12A1 receptor mediating stromal-epithelial crosstalk.

Conclusion

Our study defines a novel molecular axis in the TME: NF-κB/YAP1/COL12A1. We demonstrate that NF-κB activation—triggered by H. pylori infection—drives YAP1 expression in CAFs, which in turn regulates COL12A1 expression. COL12A1 not only maintains CAF aggressiveness but also promotes gastric cancer progression through interaction with integrin receptors on tumor cells. These findings provide new insights into tumor-stroma interactions and suggest that targeting COL12A1 or the upstream NF-κB/YAP1 pathway may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.

References

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