N Nature Genetics · Nov 05, 2025 Epigenetically driven and early immune evasion in colorectal cancer evolution Immune system control is a principal hurdle in cancer evolution. The temporal dynamics of immune evasion remain incompletely characterized, and how immune-mediated selection interrelates with epigenome alteration is unclear. Here we infer the genome- and epigenome-driven evolutionary dynamics of tumor-immune coevolution within primary colorectal cancers (CRCs). We utilize a multiregion multiomic dataset of matched genome, transcriptome and chromatin accessibility profiling from 495 single glands (from 29 CRCs) supplemented with high-resolution spatially resolved neoantigen sequencing data and multiplexed imaging of the tumor microenvironment from 82 microbiopsies within 11 CRCs. Somatic chromatin accessibility alterations contribute to accessibility loss of antigen-presenting genes and silencing of neoantigens. Immune escape and exclusion occur at the outset of CRC formation, and later intratumoral differences in immuno-editing are negligible or exclusive to sites of invasion. Collectively, immune evasion in CRC follows a ‘Big Bang’ evolutionary pattern, whereby it is acquired close to transformation and defines subsequent cancer-immune evolution. Cancer Epigenomics Gastrointestinal cancer Genome informatics biology
N Nature Genetics · Nov 05, 2025 Genome-scale CRISPR screens identify PTGES3 as a direct modulator of androgen receptor function in advanced prostate cancer The androgen receptor (AR) is a critical driver of prostate cancer (PCa). Here, to study regulators of AR protein levels and oncogenic activity, we developed a live-cell quantitative endogenous AR fluorescent reporter. Leveraging this AR reporter, we performed genome-scale CRISPRi flow cytometry sorting screens to systematically identify genes that modulate AR protein levels. We identified and validated known AR protein regulators, including HOXB13 and GATA2, and also unexpected top hits including PTGES3—a poorly characterized gene in PCa. PTGES3 repression resulted in loss of AR protein, cell-cycle arrest and cell death in AR-driven PCa models. Clinically, analysis of PCa data demonstrates that PTGES3 expression is associated with AR-directed therapy resistance. Mechanistically, we show PTGES3 binds directly to AR, regulates AR protein stability and is necessary for AR function in the nucleus at AR target genes. PTGES3 represents a potential therapeutic target for overcoming known mechanisms of resistance to existing AR-directed therapies in PCa. Cancer Prostate cancer biology
N Nature Genetics · Nov 03, 2025 Functionally dominant hotspot mutations of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA genes in cancer The vast majority of recurrent somatic mutations arising in tumors affect protein-coding genes in the nuclear genome. Here, through population-scale analysis of 14,106 whole tumor genomes, we report the discovery of highly recurrent mutations affecting both the small (12S,MT-RNR1) and large (16S,MT-RNR2) mitochondrial RNA subunits of the mitochondrial ribosome encoded within mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Compared to non-hotspot positions, mitochondrial rRNA hotspots preferentially affected positions under purifying selection in the germline and demonstrated structural clustering within the mitoribosome at mRNA and tRNA interacting positions. Using precision mtDNA base editing, we engineered models of an exemplarMT-RNR1hotspot mutation, m.1227G>A. Multimodal profiling revealed a heteroplasmy-dependent decrease in mitochondrial function and loss of respiratory chain subunits from a heteroplasmic dosage of ~10%. Mutation of conserved positions in ribosomal RNA that disrupt mitochondrial translation therefore represent a class of functionally dominant, pathogenic mtDNA mutations that are under positive selection in cancer genomes. Cancer Genetics biology
N Nature Genetics · Oct 30, 2025 Transcription factor switching drives subtype-specific pancreatic cancer Emerging evidence suggests that lineage-specifying transcription factors control the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We have discovered a transcription factor switching mechanism involving the poorly characterized orphan nuclear receptor HNF4G and the putative pioneer factor FOXA1, which drives PDAC progression. Using our unbiased protein interactome discovery approach, we identified HNF4A and HNF4G as reproducible, FOXA1-associated proteins, in both preclinical models and Whipple surgical samples. In the primary tumor context, we consistently find that the dominant transcription factor is HNF4G, where it functions as the driver. A molecular switch occurs in advanced disease, whereby HNF4G expression or activity decreases, unmasking FOXA1’s transcriptional potential. Derepressed FOXA1 drives late-stage disease by orchestrating metastasis-specific enhancer–promoter loops to regulate the expression of metastatic genes. Overall survival is influenced by HNF4G and FOXA1 activity in primary tumor growth and in metastasis, respectively. We suggest that the existence of stage-dependent transcription factor activity, triggered by molecular compartmentalization, mediates the progression of PDAC. Cancer biology
N Nature Genetics · Oct 21, 2025 Multi-modal spatial characterization of tumor immune microenvironments identifies targetable inflammatory niches in diffuse large B cell lymphoma Diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that can arise in lymph nodes or extranodal locations, including immune-privileged sites. Here, we applied highly multiplexed spatial transcriptomics and proteomics together with genomic profiling to characterize the immune microenvironment architecture of 78 DLBCL tumors. We define seven distinct cellular niches, each characterized by unique cellular compositions, spatial organizations and patterns of intercellular communication associated with niche-specific phenotypes of both T cells and tumor B cells. Among these, DLBCLs from immune-privileged sites showed abundant T cell infiltration into diffuse niches, where immune cells were intermixed with tumor B cells and bore transcriptional hallmarks of activation and effector function, suggesting that they may be primed for anti-tumor immunity. Spatial characterization of the DLBCL immune microenvironment, therefore, reveals cellular niches that foster divergent patterns of cell–cell interactions contributing to the phenotypic heterogeneity of both niche-resident tumor and immune cells. Cancer microenvironment Translational research biology
N Nature Genetics · Oct 10, 2025 Single-cell multi-omic and spatial profiling of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma reveals the immunosuppressive role of GPR116+pericytes in cancer metastasis Tumor metastasis leads to most cancer deaths. However, how cellular diversity and dynamic cooperation within the tumor microenvironment contribute to metastasis remains poorly understood. Here we leverage single-cell multi-omics (16 samples, 117,169 cells) and spatial transcriptomics (five samples, 195,366 cells) to uncover the cellular and spatial architecture of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and characterize an immunosuppressive GPR116+pericyte subset promoting tumor metastasis and immunotherapy resistance. GPR116+pericyte enrichment is transcriptionally regulated by PRRX1, evidenced by pericyte-specificPrrx1knockout mice. Mechanistically, GPR116+pericytes secrete EGFL6 to bind integrin β1 on cancer cells, activating the NF-κB pathway to facilitate metastasis. Serum EGFL6 serves as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of several tumors. Blocking integrin β1 suppresses metastasis and improves immunotherapy response in animal models of ESCC. Collectively, we provide a spatially resolved landscape of the prometastatic tumor microenvironment in ESCC and highlight the biological and clinical importance of GPR116+pericytes, proposing potential innovative therapeutic strategies for metastatic cancers. Cancer microenvironment Metastasis Oesophageal cancer Tumour immunology Cancer Single-cell Mouse Immunology Drug Development
N Nature Genetics · Oct 10, 2025 Spatial signatures for predicting immunotherapy outcomes using multi-omics in non-small cell lung cancer Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) shows variable responses to immunotherapy, highlighting the need for biomarkers to guide patient selection. We applied a spatial multi-omics approach to 234 advanced NSCLC patients treated with programmed death 1-based immunotherapy across three cohorts to identify biomarkers associated with outcome. Spatial proteomics (n= 67) and spatial compartment-based transcriptomics (n= 131) enabled profiling of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Using spatial proteomics, we identified a resistance cell-type signature including proliferating tumor cells, granulocytes, vessels (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.8,P= 0.004) and a response signature, including M1/M2 macrophages and CD4 T cells (HR = 0.4,P= 0.019). We then generated a cell-to-gene resistance signature using spatial transcriptomics, which was predictive of poor outcomes (HR = 5.3, 2.2, 1.7 across Yale, University of Queensland and University of Athens cohorts), while a cell-to-gene response signature predicted favorable outcomes (HR = 0.22, 0.38 and 0.56, respectively). This framework enables robust TIME modeling and identifies biomarkers to support precision immunotherapy in NSCLC. Cancer microenvironment Non-small-cell lung cancer Tumour biomarkers Cancer Immunology Proteomics Genomics Human
N Nature Genetics · Aug 26, 2025 ERG-driven prostate cancer initiation is cell-context dependent and requires KMT2A and DOT1L Despite the high prevalence of ERG transcription factor translocations in prostate cancer, the mechanism of tumorigenicity remains poorly understood. Using lineage tracing, we find the tumor-initiating activity of ERG resides in a subpopulation of murine basal cells that coexpress luminal genes (BasalLum) and not in the larger population of ERG+luminal cells. Upon ERG activation, BasalLumcells give rise to highly proliferative intermediate (IM) cells with stem-like features that coexpress basal, luminal, hillock and club marker genes, before transitioning to Krt8+luminal cells. Transcriptomic analysis of ERG+human prostate cancers confirms the presence of rare ERG+BasalLumcells, as well as IM cells whose presence is associated with a worse prognosis. Single-cell analysis revealed a chromatin state in ERG+IM cells enriched for STAT3 transcription factor binding sites and elevated expression of the KMT2A/MLL1 and DOT1L, all three of which are essential for ERG-driven tumorigenicity in vivo. In addition to providing translational opportunities, this work illustrates how single-cell approaches combined with lineage tracing can identify cancer vulnerabilities not evident from bulk analysis. Cancer stem cells Cancer therapy Epigenetics Gene regulation Cancer Single-cell Mouse Human Genomics
N Nature Genetics · Aug 22, 2025 Precise modulation of BRG1 levels reveals features of mSWI/SNF dosage sensitivity Mammalian switch/sucrose nonfermentable (mSWI/SNF) complex regulates chromatin accessibility and frequently shows alterations due to mutation in cancer and neurological diseases. Inadequate expression of mSWI/SNF in heterozygous mice can lead to developmental defects, indicating dosage-sensitive effects of mSWI/SNF. However, how its dosage affects function has remained unclear. Using a targeted protein degradation system, we investigated its dosage-sensitive effects by precisely controlling protein levels of BRG1, the ATPase subunit of the mSWI/SNF complex. We found that binding of BRG1 to chromatin exhibited a linear response to the BRG1 protein level. Although chromatin accessibility at most promoters and insulators was largely unaffected by BRG1 depletion, 44% of enhancers, including 84% of defined superenhancers, showed reduced accessibility. Notably, half of the BRG1-regulated enhancers, particularly superenhancers, exhibited a buffered response to BRG1 loss. Consistently, transcription exhibited a predominantly buffered response to changes in BRG1 levels. Collectively, our findings demonstrate a genomic feature-specific response to BRG1 dosage, shedding light on the dosage-sensitive effects of mSWI/SNF complex defects in cancer and other diseases. Cancer Epigenetics Epigenomics Gene regulation Stem cells Cancer Genetics Mouse Cell Biology
