Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40701795›Full record

ArticleGut2025

Pericyte drives the formation of circulating tumour cell-neutrophil clusters to promote colorectal cancer metastasis.

Sheng Wang, Geni Ye, Xiaoling Xu, Yuning Lin, Xiaobo Li, Zhang Zhang, Ming Qi, Lin Tan, Minjing Cheng, Haishan Zhang and 20 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Gut, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Mechanisms of Pericyte-Mediated Cancer Metastasis.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

30 authors.

Sheng Wang *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Geni Ye *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xiaoling Xu *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yuning Lin *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xiaobo Li *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Zhang ZhangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Ming QiState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Lin TanState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Minjing ChengState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Haishan ZhangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jinghua PanThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3741-3397
Changwei LinDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Dandan HuangDepartment of General Surgery (anal surgery), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Rong DengState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xiaomei LiShenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Guangsuo WangShenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Shenghui QiuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xiaodong ChuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yuhong ChenState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Huhu ZengState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Junqiu ZhangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Chenran WangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Hanlin ShuaiThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Heyuan, Guangdong, China.
Changzheng ShiThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Heyuan, Guangdong, China.
Xia YuanDepartment of Medical Oncology, Huizhou First Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, China.
Yihai CaoDepartment of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden dmzhang701@jnu.edu.cn chywc@aliyun.com huangmh@jnu.edu.cn minfengchen@jnu.edu.cn yihai.cao@ki.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1308-0065
Minfeng ChenState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China dmzhang701@jnu.edu.cn chywc@aliyun.com huangmh@jnu.edu.cn minfengchen@jnu.edu.cn yihai.cao@ki.se.
Maohua HuangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China dmzhang701@jnu.edu.cn chywc@aliyun.com huangmh@jnu.edu.cn minfengchen@jnu.edu.cn yihai.cao@ki.se.
Wencai YeState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China dmzhang701@jnu.edu.cn chywc@aliyun.com huangmh@jnu.edu.cn minfengchen@jnu.edu.cn yihai.cao@ki.se.
Dongmei ZhangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Natural Bioactive Molecules and Discovery of Innovative Drugs, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China dmzhang701@jnu.edu.cn chywc@aliyun.com huangmh@jnu.edu.cn minfengchen@jnu.edu.cn yihai.cao@ki.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2378-2458

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCirculating tumour cell (CTC)-neutrophil clusters represent a key driver and a hallmark of tumour metastasis; however, efficient approaches for their elimination are still lacking.

objectiveThis study sought to elucidate the location and mechanisms of CTC-neutrophil cluster formation and develop more effective antimetastasis strategies.

designImmunofluorescence staining of clinical colorectal cancer (CRC) samples was performed to identify the location of CTC-neutrophil clusters. The correlation between the expression of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) in pericytes and patient prognosis, as well as its association with CTC-neutrophil cluster formation, was assessed using clinical specimens and public CRC datasets. The formation process of CTC-neutrophil clusters was visualised using intravital microscope and microfluidic vascular chip models. Bulk RNA sequencing, xenograft and allograft models and pericyte-specific genetic

resultsCTC-neutrophil clusters formed at the vascular-immune interface of CRC primary tumours. Pericytes with high NNMT expression could serve as a poor prognostic biomarker that indicated an increased risk of developing metastasis in CRC. NNMT highly expressing pericytes facilitated the formation of CTC-neutrophil clusters by mediating the cellular interaction among CRC cells, neutrophils and endothelial cells through activating the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of NNMT in pericytes eliminated CTC-neutrophil clusters and suppressed CRC liver metastasis.

conclusionThis study uncovers the previously undefined location and mechanism of CTC-neutrophil cluster formation and underscores the potential of pericyte-driven CTC-neutrophil clusters as a valuable prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for CRC metastasis.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsNeoplastic Cells, CirculatingNeutrophilsPericytesAnimalsHumansMiceNeoplasm MetastasisNicotinamide N-MethyltransferasePrognosisNicotinamide N-MethyltransferaseCOLORECTAL CANCERLIVER METASTASESPHARMACOTHERAPY

Identifiers

PMID40701795
PMCPMC12703295

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.