Extracellular matrix profiles determine risk and prognosis of the squamous cell carcinoma subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma

Amelia L. Parker, Elise Bowman, Adriana Zingone, Brid M. Ryan, Wendy A. Cooper, Maija Kohonen-Corish, Curtis C. Harris, Thomas R. Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) is a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer for which patient prognosis remains poor. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical in regulating cell behavior; however, its importance in tumor aggressiveness remains to be comprehensively characterized.

Methods: Multi-omics data of SqCC human tumor specimens was combined to characterize ECM features associated with initiation and recurrence. Penalized logistic regression was used to define a matrix risk signature for SqCC tumors and its performance across a panel of tumor types and in SqCC premalignant lesions was evaluated. Consensus clustering was used to define prognostic matreotypes for SqCC tumors. Matreotype-specific tumor biology was defined by integration of bulk RNAseq with scRNAseq data, cell type deconvolution, analysis of ligand-receptor interactions and enriched biological pathways, and through cross comparison of matreotype expression profiles with aging and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung profiles.

Results: This analysis revealed subtype-specific ECM signatures associated with tumor initiation that were predictive of premalignant progression. We identified an ECM-enriched tumor subtype associated with the poorest prognosis. In silico analysis indicates that matrix remodeling programs differentially activate intracellular signaling in tumor and stromal cells to reinforce matrix remodeling associated with resistance and progression. The matrix subtype with the poorest prognosis resembles ECM remodeling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and may represent a field of cancerization associated with elevated cancer risk.

Conclusions: Collectively, this analysis defines matrix-driven features of poor prognosis to inform precision medicine prevention and treatment strategies towards improving SqCC patient outcome.
Original languageEnglish
Article number126
Pages (from-to)1-29
Number of pages29
JournalGenome Medicine
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • Extracellular matrix
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Squamous

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