Keratin 5 expression defines a niche-supported hierarchy in tubo-ovarian cancer

Cancer Heterogeneity and Plasticity 2026;3(2):0006 | https://doi.org/10.47248/chp2603020006

Commentary Open Access

Keratin 5 expression defines a niche-supported hierarchy in tubo-ovarian cancer

Zhiyu Tian ¹ , Karen McLean ^1,2

1. Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
2. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA

Correspondence: Karen McLean

Academic Editor(s): Jinsong Liu

Received: Apr 16, 2026 | Accepted: May 8, 2026 | Published: May 12, 2026

Cite this article: Tian Z, McLean K. Keratin 5 expression defines a niche-supported hierarchy in tubo-ovarian cancer. Cancer Heterog Plast. 2026;3(2):0006. https://doi.org/10.47248/chp2603020006

Abstract

Tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is characterized by extreme cellular heterogeneity. A tumorigenic subset of cancer-propagating cells (CPC) with stem-like properties coexists with a large population of non-cancer-propagating cells (non-CPC), but the functional interplay between these two cell types remains poorly understood. In this issue, Bidarimath et al. identify keratin 5 (KRT5) as a marker of CPC in HGSC and propose a niche model in which osteopontin (OPN) sustains KRT5-positive CPC through interactions with KRT5-negative, non-tumorigenic cells. By combining in vitro, in vivo, and patient-derived data, the study links a supportive tumor microenvironment to the maintenance of a phenotypically defined CPC population.

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