Cancer Discov. 2026 Apr 15. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-25-1663. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Brain metastases (BM) remain a devastating disease with dismal prognosis. How circulating tumor cells (CTCs) penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) and reprogram the brain microenvironment remain unclear. Using spatially resolved multi-omic profiling of CTCs and brain metastases, integrated with experimental and clinical analyses, we identified Glycoprotein Non-Metastatic Melanoma Protein B (GPNMB) as a CTC-secreted driver of vascular disruption and brain colonization. CBX3 upregulation induced GPNMB expression, which bound endothelial EGFR, triggering CBL-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. Attenuated EGFR signaling suppressed FTO and disrupted endothelial junctions via YTHDF2-dependent TJP1 m6A methylation. Remarkably, GPNMB-induced BBB remodeling promoted immune infiltration via CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and induced time course-dependent T cell exhaustion within the brain microenvironment. Clinically, elevated CBX3⁺GPNMB⁺ CTCs and plasma CXCL12 were significantly associated with BM progression in lung cancer and melanoma. Therapeutically, dual blockade of GPNMB and PD1 enhanced anti-BM efficacy in mice, unveiling GPNMB as a promising target for precision immunotherapy.

PMID:41973996 | DOI:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-25-1663

Front Genet. 2026 Mar 23;16:1722368. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1722368. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and one of the leading causes of cancer death, with a heavy disease burden and severe public health challenges. Multi-omics techniques, such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and radiomics, play a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, revealing the molecular characteristics and mechanisms of lung cancer, and have significant clinical application value. However, it also faces numerous challenges, such as data issues, "black box" problems, and ethical and legal concerns. How to leverage strengths while mitigating weaknesses, achieve clinical translation of technology, and serve patients more effectively deserves our deep reflection. This article reviews the specific applications and challenges of multi-omics methods in lung cancer research and personalized treatment.

PMID:41948518 | PMC:PMC13050793 | DOI:10.3389/fgene.2025.1722368