Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma

Abstract Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer. Duo to the current lack of precise targeted therapies, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we perform single-nucleus transcriptome analysis...

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Main Authors: Binghua Tan, Ke Xu, Yingcheng Lyu, Yicheng Liang, Ruihao Liang, Kai Lei, Jialu Liang, Jing Huang, Kefeng Wang, Duoguang Wu, Wenjian Wang, Xueting Hu, Kexi Wang, Minghui Wang, Huayue Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07819-0
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author Binghua Tan
Ke Xu
Yingcheng Lyu
Yicheng Liang
Ruihao Liang
Kai Lei
Jialu Liang
Jing Huang
Kefeng Wang
Duoguang Wu
Wenjian Wang
Xueting Hu
Kexi Wang
Minghui Wang
Huayue Lin
author_facet Binghua Tan
Ke Xu
Yingcheng Lyu
Yicheng Liang
Ruihao Liang
Kai Lei
Jialu Liang
Jing Huang
Kefeng Wang
Duoguang Wu
Wenjian Wang
Xueting Hu
Kexi Wang
Minghui Wang
Huayue Lin
author_sort Binghua Tan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer. Duo to the current lack of precise targeted therapies, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we perform single-nucleus transcriptome analysis on PPLELC samples to reveal the molecular tumor heterogeneity and characterize the functional states of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. We identify a critical malignant subpopulation of PPLELC characterized by elevated expression of AKT3 and FGFR2. Higher expression levels of AKT3 and FGFR2 are associated with poorer patient outcomes. Moreover, treatment with either an AKT3 inhibitor or an FGFR2 inhibitor significantly attenuates tumor progression in patient-derived xenograft models. Our findings highlight AKT3 and FGFR2 as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers, providing valuable insights for the development of rational targeted therapies and immunotherapeutic strategies.
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issn 2399-3642
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spelling doaj-art-18a2b172d69a46099aea7d7ab8e0bad62025-08-20T03:05:46ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-03-018111410.1038/s42003-025-07819-0Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomaBinghua Tan0Ke Xu1Yingcheng Lyu2Yicheng Liang3Ruihao Liang4Kai Lei5Jialu Liang6Jing Huang7Kefeng Wang8Duoguang Wu9Wenjian Wang10Xueting Hu11Kexi Wang12Minghui Wang13Huayue Lin14Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer. Duo to the current lack of precise targeted therapies, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we perform single-nucleus transcriptome analysis on PPLELC samples to reveal the molecular tumor heterogeneity and characterize the functional states of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. We identify a critical malignant subpopulation of PPLELC characterized by elevated expression of AKT3 and FGFR2. Higher expression levels of AKT3 and FGFR2 are associated with poorer patient outcomes. Moreover, treatment with either an AKT3 inhibitor or an FGFR2 inhibitor significantly attenuates tumor progression in patient-derived xenograft models. Our findings highlight AKT3 and FGFR2 as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers, providing valuable insights for the development of rational targeted therapies and immunotherapeutic strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07819-0
spellingShingle Binghua Tan
Ke Xu
Yingcheng Lyu
Yicheng Liang
Ruihao Liang
Kai Lei
Jialu Liang
Jing Huang
Kefeng Wang
Duoguang Wu
Wenjian Wang
Xueting Hu
Kexi Wang
Minghui Wang
Huayue Lin
Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
Communications Biology
title Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
title_full Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
title_fullStr Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
title_short Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma
title_sort single cell analysis reveals transcriptomic features and therapeutic targets in primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07819-0
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