fibroblasts exhibited pronounced spatial co-localization and, at the same time, engaged in reciprocal signaling via TGFB1 and IL6, thereby reinforcing extracellular matrix remodeling and malignant behavior. Moreover, functional experiments confirmed that SPRR2A promotes ESCC cell migration and invasion. Altogether, our study characterizes a coordinated epithelial-fibroblast network and a defined fibroblast differentiation hierarchy, offering new mechanistic insights into the ESCC pro-tumorigenic niche.
Yang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.