Multiomic analysis of malignant ascites defines RORC-expressing dendritic cells at sites of metastasis.

RORC-expressing dendritic cells are enriched in malignant ascites and regional lymph node metastases, linking them to advanced human cancers.

• Why it matters: Understanding immune cell populations in malignant ascites can reveal mechanisms of tumor progression and immune tolerance, which are critical for developing targeted therapies.
• What they did: Multiomic analyses of ascites samples from cancer patients identified RORC DCs enriched in malignant ascites, with a high-purity sorting strategy enabling in vitro studies of their phenotype and function.
• The result: RORC DCs stimulate T cell proliferation and are associated with advanced malignancies, suggesting they may play a role in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immune responses.