Through integrative analyses of single-cell spatial multi-omics datasets, Liu et al. identify four distinct spatial subtypes of cancer-associated fibroblasts, conserved across cancer types and independent of platforms. These subtypes exhibit unique transcriptomic profiles, distinct interactions with neighboring cells, and correlations with tumor microenvironment characteristics and clinical outcomes.

Cancers adapt proteostasis to cope with the burden of misfolded proteins, stabilize key signalling nodes and sustain their malignant behaviour. Tumour stroma is subjected to similar stresses, but how ...