Caveolin-1 regulates context-dependent signaling and survival in Ewing sarcoma

Plasticity is a hallmark function of cancer cells, yet the mechanisms that enable dynamic switching between survival states remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify Caveolin-1, a membrane-domain scaffolding protein, as a context-dependent regulator of survival signaling in Ewing sarcoma (EwS). Single-cell analyses reveal a distinct subpopulation of EwS cells marked by high CD99 and elevated Caveolin-1 expression. These CD99 ^High cells exhibit unique morphology, transcriptional programs, and markedly enhanced survival both under chemotherapeutic challenge and in vivo. Importantly, CD99 ^High and CD99 ^Low states are reversible, providing EwS cells with a flexible route to survival-oriented plasticity. Mechanistically, we show that Caveolin-1 in CD99 ^High cells orchestrates PI3K/AKT survival signaling by modulating the spatial organization of PI3K activity on the plasma membrane. We propose that the CD99 ^High state establishes a Caveolin-1-driven signaling architecture that supports survival through mechanisms distinct from those used by CD99 ^Low cells. These findings uncover a dynamic state transition in EwS cells and position Caveolin-1 as a key driver of context-specific survival signaling.