{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T06:04:39Z","timestamp":1789538679581,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789516800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is the most common sellar tumor in children. Although histologically benign, pediatric ACP often exhibits marked local invasiveness and a high postoperative recurrence rate. Emerging evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly immune infiltration and lymphatic-related structures, may play an important role in ACP progression. However, the presence and clinical relevance of lymphatic reprogramming in ACP remain poorly understood.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data from a pediatric ACP specimen were analyzed to characterize cellular composition and PROX1 expression patterns. Immunohistochemistry was subsequently performed on pediatric and adult ACP tissues to examine the spatial distribution and age-related expression of lymphatic markers, including PROX1 and LYVE1, as well as the vascular endothelial marker CD34. Quantitative comparisons between pediatric and adult cohorts were conducted.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Single-cell analysis identified ten major cell populations within pediatric ACP, with epithelial cells accounting for approximately 40% of total PROX1 expression. Immunohistochemical validation revealed strong PROX1 expression predominantly localized to palisade-like and keratinized epithelial regions, while glial scar areas were largely negative. LYVE1-positive lymphatic-like structures were observed within the tumor parenchyma and showed partial spatial overlap with CD34-positive vascular structures, supporting the presence of PROX1-mediated lymphatic reprogramming. Notably, PROX1 and LYVE1 expression levels were significantly higher in pediatric ACP than in adult cases, indicating a marked age-dependent difference.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our findings demonstrate the presence of lymphatic-like structures characterized by PROX1 and LYVE1 expression in pediatric ACP, indicating that lymphatic-like reprogramming is associated with the tumor microenvironment. These features could potentially relate to the aggressive and infiltrative clinical behavior observed in pediatric cases. Therefore, exploring the modulation of PROX1-driven pathways warrants further investigation as a potential approach for pediatric ACP.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2026.1865684","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T05:31:09Z","timestamp":1789536669000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["PROX1-associated lymphatic reprogramming signatures in pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma: a comparative study with adult cases"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Wanyu","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Children\u2019s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children\u2019s Health","place":["Beijing, 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