NRF2 pathway activation and SPP1⁺TREM2⁺ macrophages drive chemoradiotherapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Deng, J.; Xun, Z.; Chen, H.; Cen, Y.; Luo, Y.; Liu, W.; Chen, W.; Chen, J.; Ye, J.; Gao, X.; Fan, Q.; Song, J.; Chen, Q.; Li, Y.; Ding, F.; Sun, M.; Zhang, Y.; Chen, K.; Zhang, Z.; He, Y.; Zhang, W.; Liu, J.; Xin, Z.; Zhu, H.; Liu, Q.; Ai, D.; Chen, Y.; Li, J.; Zhao, K.; Liang, H.

doi:10.64898/2026.02.20.706928

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.02.20.706928

NRF2 pathway activation and SPP1⁺TREM2⁺ macrophages drive chemoradiotherapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Deng, J.·Xun, Z.·Chen, H.·Cen, Y.·Luo, Y.·Liu, W.·Chen, W.·Chen, J.·Ye, J.·Gao, X.·Fan, Q.·Song, J.·Chen, Q.·Li, Y.·Ding, F.·Sun, M.·Zhang, Y.·Chen, K.·Zhang, Z.·He, Y.·Zhang, W.·Liu, J.·Xin, Z.·Zhu, H.·Liu, Q.·Ai, D.·Chen, Y.·Li, J.·Zhao, K.·Liang, H.

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Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the most aggressive cancers, with low rates of durable response to chemoradiotherapy and limited therapeutic options for relapsed disease. To uncover mechanisms of treatment resistance and relapse, we performed comprehensive multi-omics profiling of >100 pre-treatment and post-relapse ESCC tumors from a prospective clinical trial (NCT04694391), integrating whole-exome/genome sequencing, bulk RNA-sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics. We identify somatic alterations in NFE2L2/KEAP1 in nearly 40% of relapsed patients, which are associated with upregulation of NRF2 signaling targets in resistant tumors and cell line models. At single-cell and spatial resolution, relapsed tumors are enriched for NRF2-activated epithelial cells that physically co-localize with immunosuppressive SPP1TREM2 macrophages. This co-localization suggests a synergistic interaction between NRF2-driven tumor programs and macrophage-mediated immune suppression that promotes relapse after chemoradiotherapy. Our findings nominate NFE2L2/KEAP1 mutations as predictive biomarkers for patient stratification and highlight therapeutic targeting of NRF2 signaling and SPP1TREM2 macrophages as rational strategies to overcome resistance in ESCC.

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Deng, J., Xun, Z., Chen, H., Cen, Y., Luo, Y., Liu, W., Chen, W., Chen, J., Ye, J., Gao, X., Fan, Q., Song, J., Chen, Q., Li, Y., Ding, F., Sun, M., Zhang, Y., Chen, K., Zhang, Z., He, Y., Zhang, W., Liu, J., Xin, Z., Zhu, H., Liu, Q., Ai, D., Chen, Y., Li, J., Zhao, K., Liang, H.. 2026-02-21. NRF2 pathway activation and SPP1⁺TREM2⁺ macrophages drive chemoradiotherapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.20.706928

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