COL10A1+ fibroblasts promote colorectal cancer metastasis and M2 macrophage polarization with pan-cancer relevance.

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common gastrointestinal cancer with poor response to therapy and high metastatic risk. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) support tumor progression, but their functional heterogeneity remains poorly understood.

Methods: We integrated multi-omics data from 10,164 samples, including single-cell, bulk, spatial transcriptomics, and proteomics, to identify and characterize CAF subpopulations. Functional validation was performed using molecular assays, in vivo models, and drug screening.

Results: We identified a COL10A1-positive fibroblast subpopulation (COL10A1⁺Fib) associated with CRC progression and poor patient prognosis. COL10A1⁺Fib promotes tumor cell proliferation, immune suppression, and metastasis. Mechanistically, COL10A1⁺Fib facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC cells via COL10A1 secretion and induces M2 macrophage polarization through the COL10A1/CD18/JAK1/STAT3 signaling axis. In turn, M2 macrophages enhance COL10A1 expression in fibroblasts via the TGF-β/RUNX2 pathway, forming a pro-tumorigenic feedback loop. The DNA-PKcs inhibitor NU7441 reduces COL10A1 expression, suppresses CAF activity, and reverses EMT and M2 polarization. Pan-cancer analysis suggests that COL10A1⁺Fib may have similar functional roles across multiple major solid tumors.

Conclusion: Our study identifies a CAF subpopulation, COL10A1⁺Fib, associated with CRC progression and immune suppression, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target in CRC and possibly other malignancies.