SPP1 and neoplasm: In an attempt to arrange the identified cell population/signaling characteristics spatially within the tumor, the authors employed spatial transcriptomics analysis, revealing that CTHRC1+ CAFs co-localize with malignant epithelial cells to form a specialized niche characterized by active EMT, high immunosuppression (featuring TREM2+/SPP1+ macrophages, Tregs, and Th17 cells), and exclusion of CD8+ T cells.