# Hypoxia-driven remodeling of SELENOP+ macrophages shapes T cell dynamics and promotes ovarian cancer metastasis

## TL;DR

This study explores how SELENOP+ macrophages in the tumor environment influence T cell activity and promote the spread of ovarian cancer.

## Contribution

The study identifies SELENOP+ macrophages as key drivers of T cell dynamics and metastasis in ovarian cancer.

## Key findings

- SELENOP+ macrophages activate CD8+ T cells via selenoprotein P in vitro and in vivo.
- Anti-VEGFA intervention increases SELENOP+ macrophages and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity in vivo.
- Hypoxia-driven VEGFA-EPHB2 signaling promotes macrophage transitions and tumor metastasis.

## Abstract

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is characterized by extensive transcoelomic dissemination and the accumulation of ascites. However, how site-specific tumor microenvironment (TME) drives progression remains unknown. Here we show the co-occurrence and spatial co-localization of SELENOP+ macrophages and precursor exhausted CD8+ T cells and demonstrate that SELENOP+ macrophages activate T cells via selenoprotein P in vitro and in vivo. We further identify a dynamic transition in the SELENOP+/SPP1+ macrophage populations as tumor metastasis, driven by increased hypoxia malignant epithelial cells through VEGFA-EPHB2 signaling. We also reveal that anti-VEGFA intervention controls ovarian tumor growth by increasing SELENOP+ macrophages and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in vivo. Taken together, these findings spotlight the role of tumor-induced TME remodeling in subverting immune-mediated tumor control and thus facilitating HGSOC metastasis in females. Collectively, our results provide a foundation for the development of targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at impeding HGSOC metastatic trajectory.

How site-specific tumor microenvironment (TME) drives the metastasis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains unclear. Here, the authors employ an integrated single cell multi-omics approach to map the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of HGSOC metastasis TME and identify an interaction network within the TME driven by SELENOP+ macrophages and pre-exhausted CD8+ T cells.