Integrated single-cell transcriptomic analysis of brain and lymph node metastases in non-small cell lung cancer
Zhang-Nan Liu, Miao-Miao Li, Yu Ping, Qi-Tai Zhao, Li-Ping Wang, Yi Zhang
Zhang-Nan Liu, Miao-Miao Li, Yu Ping, Qi-Tai Zhao, Yi Zhang, Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Li-Ping Wang, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Yi Zhang, Aging Decoding and Regeneration Institute, School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
Yi Zhang, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
Yi Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Convergence Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
Yi Zhang, Institute of Cell Therapy and Immunotherapy, Henan Academy of Innovations in Medical Science, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
Co-first authors: Zhang-Nan Liu and Miao-Miao Li.
Co-corresponding authors: Li-Ping Wang and Yi Zhang.
Author contributions: Liu ZN analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript; Li MM analyzed the data and drafted the Materials and Methods section; Ping Y contributed to the clinical sample collection and analysis; Zhao QT designed the manuscript; Wang LP supervised the study and revised the manuscript; Zhang Y designed and supervised the study and revised the manuscript; Liu ZN and Li MM made crucial and indispensable contributions towards the completion of the project and therefore qualify as the co-first authors of the paper; Wang LP and Zhang Y played important and indispensable roles in the manuscript preparation as co-corresponding authors; all authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: We declare that no AI tools were used in the development or writing of this manuscript and take full responsibility for its integrity, accuracy, and originality.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Yi Zhang, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Full Professor, Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
yizhang@zzu.edu.cn
Received: July 28, 2026
Revised: August 31, 2026
Accepted: October 13, 2026
Published online: October 24, 2026
Processing time: 87 Days and 2.3 Hours
