Periostin⁺ cancer-associated fibroblasts promote lymph node metastasis by impairing the lymphatic endothelial barriers in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Lymph node metastasis (LNM), a critical prognostic determinant in cancer patients, is critically influenced by the presence of numerous heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment. However, the phenotypes and characteristics of the various pro-metastatic CAF subsets in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) remain unknown. Here, we describe a CAF subpopulation with elevated periostin expression (periostin⁺ CAFs), located in the primary tumor sites and metastatic lymph nodes, that positively correlated with LNM and poor survival in CSCC patients. Mechanistically, periostin⁺ CAFs impaired lymphatic endothelial barriers by activating the integrin-FAK/Src-VE-cadherin signaling pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells and consequently enhanced metastatic dissemination. In contrast, inhibition of the FAK/Src signaling pathway alleviated periostin-induced lymphatic endothelial barrier dysfunction and its related effects. Notably, periostin^- CAFs were incapable of impairing endothelial barrier integrity, which may explain the occurrence of CAF-enriched cases without LNM. In conclusion, we identified a specific periostin⁺ CAF subset that promotes LNM in CSCC, mainly by impairing the lymphatic endothelial barriers, thus providing the basis for potential stromal fibroblast-targeted interventions that block CAF-dependent metastasis.

SUBMITTER: Wei WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7782076 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature