Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	121446
Country	China

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Basic Study
Article Title	Spatial transcriptomics reveals tumor niche heterogeneity in advanced gastric cancer and suggests a tumor-promoting role for KRT6B
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Rui Ni, Hui Dong, Rui-Dong Han, Xue-Chen Ren, Yu-Ling Qu, Lei Wang, Shen-Si Chen and You-Cheng Zhang
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Natural Science Foundation project of Ningxia No. 2023AAC03680 Ningxia Medical University Research Project No. XM2020166
Corresponding Author	You-Cheng Zhang, MD, PhD, Professor, Laboratory of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic, Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital and Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, No. 82 Cuiying Gate, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China. zhangychmd@126.com
Key Words	Gastric cancer; Spatial transcriptomics; Stereo-seq; Spatial heterogeneity; KRT6B
Core Tip	The spatial organization of advanced gastric cancer remains insufficiently characterized. Using full-thickness Stereo-seq profiling, this study identified a superficial-to-deep tumor niche axis, niche-specific transcriptional gradients, and a spatially isolated tumor nest with preferential enrichment for KRT6B. External validation and in vitro assays further supported KRT6B as a candidate molecule associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes. Although the study was based on a limited number of samples, these findings provide an initial spatial framework for investigating intratumoral heterogeneity in advanced gastric cancer.
Citation	Ni R, Dong H, Han RD, Ren XC, Qu YL, Wang L, Chen SS, Zhang YC. Spatial transcriptomics reveals tumor niche heterogeneity in advanced gastric cancer and suggests a tumor-promoting role for KRT6B. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2026-03-26 03:49
Peer-Review Started	2026-03-26 03:49
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-04 02:13
Return for Revision	2026-04-04 02:13
Revised	2026-04-17 09:19
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-04-21 09:18
Second Decision by Editor	2026-06-01 02:37
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-06-02 07:10
Articles in Press	2026-06-02 07:10
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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