Spatially resolved multiomics reveals the self-enforcing property of the leading-edge multicellular ecosystem of head and neck cancer

macrophages and cytotoxic T cells. These interactions may contribute to the structural organization and immunosuppressive features of the LEMCE. Therapeutically, targeting this niche via a combination of autocrine cytokine blockade, FA metabolic restoration, and PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibition suppressed invasion, reduced metastasis, and prolonged survival in mouse models. Our findings define the LEMCE as a self-reinforcing invasive and immunosuppressive niche and highlight its potential as a targetable vulnerability in HNSCC.