Hidden HPV-linked cell type may drive early cervical cancer, scientists report

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC), the most prevalent subtype of cervical cancer, remains a major global health burden driven primarily by persistent high-risk HPV infection and genetic susceptibility.

A research team led by Professor Ruozheng Wang, along with Mr. Peiwen Fan, Mr. Danning Dong, Dr. Yanning Feng and Dr. Xiaonan Zhu from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) to delineate the molecular landscape of early-stage CESC. This work sheds light on HPV-induced keratinocyte heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling during carcinogenesis, offering critical insights into therapeutic target discovery. The study was published in the Chinese Medical Journal on October 20, 2025.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of tumor and adjacent tissues from early-stage CESC patients identified a distinct population of S100A7⁺PI3⁺ keratinocytes that were highly enriched in tumors and closely associated with HPV infection. Prognostic validation using the TCGA dataset showed that increased infiltration of these cells was significantly correlated with poorer patient outcomes. Within tumors, PI3⁺S100A7⁺ keratinocytes were found in close spatial proximity to CD163⁺ macrophages, engaging in interactions that co-activated key oncogenic pathways, including NF-κB, TNF signaling, and cytokine–receptor interactions. These signaling networks collectively promoted tumor proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. Notably, patients with high infiltration of both cell types exhibited markedly reduced overall survival.

Fibroblast subtyping further revealed four distinct populations. Among these, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs; C1 subtype) were predominant in tumor tissues and displayed strong activation of inflammatory pathways, whereas undifferentiated fibroblasts (C3 subtype) were more abundant in adjacent non-cancerous tissues.

Prof. Wang quoted, “We identified PI3 and S100A7 as significantly overexpressed in HPV-positive cervical squamous cell carcinoma samples compared to non-tumor controls, as validated by TCGA data. Through immunohistochemistry, we further confirmed the co-localization of S100A7 and PI3 within keratinocytes, defining a distinct subpopulation of PI3+S100A7+ cells.”

Prof. Wang further highlighted that these interactions between keratinocytes and immune cells are pivotal in shaping the tumor environment: “Macrophages were enriched in tumor tissues and exhibited strong crosstalk with keratinocytes, mediated by TNF, CCL2, CXCL8, and IL10.”

The study sheds light on how HPV infection drives transcriptional reprogramming in keratinocytes, creating a permissive tumor microenvironment through intricate stromal–immune crosstalk. This mechanism likely underlies both viral persistence and the early stages of malignant transformation.

This research not only deepens our understanding of cervical carcinogenesis but also reveals potential therapeutic targets for halting disease progression by dissecting the cross-talk between HPV-infected keratinocytes, immune cells, and stromal components in early CESC. Future investigations focusing on pathway-specific inhibitors or immunomodulatory agents directed at these cell populations could fundamentally transform the management of early-stage CESC.

In conclusion, this discovery represents a pivotal step toward precision medicine in cervical cancer—redefining how HPV-driven cellular reprogramming is understood and opening the door to earlier, more effective therapeutic interventions.

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Reference
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003795