SPOCK1 promotes the progression of breast cancer by modulating cancer-associated fibroblasts and exerts a synergistic effect with ANXA2.

BACKGROUND

SPOCK1, a matricellular glycoprotein, has been implicated in tumor progression, metastasis, and the tumor immune microenvironment, yet its specific roles in breast cancer (BRCA) remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically explore the expression pattern, prognostic significance, mutation landscape, immune association, and spatial localization of SPOCK1 in breast cancer through integrated multi-omics analyses.

METHODS

Transcriptomic, genomic, and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were utilized. Bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses were conducted, including functional enrichment, immune infiltration assessments, mutation profiling, and transcription factor activity analysis. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was performed to validate the spatial distribution of SPOCK1+ cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment. Statistical analyses were performed using R and GraphPad Prism.

RESULTS

SPOCK1 was broadly overexpressed in multiple cancer types and significantly associated with poor prognosis in BRCA. High SPOCK1 expression correlated with immune checkpoint activation, enhanced immune infiltration, and enriched metastasis-related pathways such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and TGF-β signaling. Single-cell analysis identified CAFs as the primary cell population expressing SPOCK1, with spatial mIHC confirming their close proximity to tumor cells. Furthermore, SPOCK1-high CAFs exhibited stronger intercellular communications with malignant cells via collagen, fibronectin, and IGFBP signaling pathways, alongside distinct transcription factor and metabolic profiles. In breast cancer CAF cell lines with knockdown of ANXA2 we found that the expression of both SPOCK1 and IGF1 was reduced.

CONCLUSION

SPOCK1 serves as a critical regulator of breast cancer progression, influencing tumor metastasis and reshaping the immune microenvironment via CAF-mediated mechanisms. These findings suggest that targeting SPOCK1+ CAFs could offer new therapeutic opportunities for breast cancer treatment.