357-SOX2-Driven Niche Sculpts Neutrophil Immunosuppression

Paper Talk · Jan 4, 2026 · 14m

This research identifies how SOX2-high tumor-initiating stem cells (tSCs) survive immunotherapy by manipulating the immune environment to create a protective niche. While immunotherapy typically uses interferons to reprogram tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) into anti-tumor agents, tSCs at the tumor-stroma interface block this transition. The study reveals that these stem cells utilize a SOX2-FADS1 signaling axis to produce arachidonic acid, which converts into prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This specific pathway suppresses the interferon response in nearby neutrophils, maintaining their…