The paper introduces TabulaTIME, a massive pan-cancer single-cell resource that integrates data from over four million cells across 36 different cancer types. By utilizing advanced computational frameworks, the researchers identified a specific group of CTHRC1+ cancer-associated fibroblasts that reside at the boundary between healthy and malignant tissue. These cells appear to create a physical barrier that prevents immune cells from infiltrating the tumor. The study also highlights a profibrotic ecotype formed by the interaction of these fibroblasts with SLPI+ macrophages, which contributes to poor patient outcomes. Ultimately, this comprehensive landscape provides a navigational map for understanding the tumor microenvironment and identifying new therapeutic targets to overcome immune evasion.

References:

• Han Y, Zhang L, Sun D, et al. Spatiotemporal analyses of the pan-cancer single-cell landscape reveal widespread profibrotic ecotypes associated with tumor immunity[J]. Nature Cancer, 2025, 6(11): 1880-1898.