Featured
-
-
Article
| Open Access
Allele-specific transcriptional effects of subclonal copy number alterations enable genotype-phenotype mapping in cancer cells
Quantifying the impact of copy-number alterations (CNAs) on gene expression at the subclone level in cancer remains a challenge. Here, the authors develop TreeAlign, a method that integrates sample-matched single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing data to infer the impact of CNAs on subclonal gene expression.
- Hongyu Shi
- , Marc J. Williams
- & Sohrab P. Shah
-
Article
| Open Access
The evolution of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma through genomic-transcriptomic and single-cell protein markers analysis
Detailed molecular studies are required to understand the differences between primary and metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Here, the authors use genomics, transcriptomics and imaging mass cytometry to characterise the molecular profiles of primary and metastatic UTUC, and find that molecular subtypes remain highly conserved.
- Kentaro Ohara
- , André Figueiredo Rendeiro
- & Juan Miguel Mosquera
-
Article
| Open Access
Evolving copy number gains promote tumor expansion and bolster mutational diversification
Understanding the timing and fitness of somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) in cancer would shed light on cancer progression and evolution. Here, the authors develop Butte, a computational framework to estimate the timing of clonal SCNAs that encompass multiple gains, and apply it on whole-genome sequencing data from 184 samples.
- Zicheng Wang
- , Yunong Xia
- & Ruping Sun
-
Article
| Open Access
Cellular hierarchy insights reveal leukemic stem-like cells and early death risk in acute promyelocytic leukemia
The cellular hierarchies in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remain to be explored. Here, the authors perform single-cell RNA sequencing of 16 APL patients to characterise its cellular composition and develop an APL-specific stemness score for assessing the risk of early death in APL.
- Wen Jin
- , Yuting Dai
- & Kankan Wang
-
Article
| Open Access
Residual ANTXR1+ myofibroblasts after chemotherapy inhibit anti-tumor immunity via YAP1 signaling pathway
An important contribution of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in regulating chemoresistance has been reported. Here the authors investigate the impact of chemotherapy on CAF subsets in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, suggesting that residual ANTXR1+ myofibroblasts are associated with inhibition of anti-tumor immunity.
- Monika Licaj
- , Rana Mhaidly
- & Fatima Mechta-Grigoriou
-
Article
| Open Access
UPP1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression through the induction of an immunosuppressive microenvironment
Characterising the tumour microenvironment features of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains crucial. Here, the authors perform single cell RNA sequencing data analysis of 117 LUAD samples and functional assays and highlight the immunosuppressive role of UPP1high tumour cells.
- Yin Li
- , Manling Jiang
- & Chunlai Lu
-
Article
| Open Access
Tracing back primed resistance in cancer via sister cells
Transcriptional cell states can drive treatment resistance in cancer. Here, the authors develop ReSisTrace to predict cell states that are primed to resist ovarian cancer treatment and validate their findings using small molecule inhibitors.
- Jun Dai
- , Shuyu Zheng
- & Anna Vähärautio
-
Article
| Open Access
Clinical application of tumour-in-normal contamination assessment from whole genome sequencing
Assessing tumour contamination in normal samples is critical for accurate variant calling in cancer samples. Here, the authors develop TINC, a computational method to determine the level of tumour in normal contamination, and demonstrate its application in the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project dataset.
- Jonathan Mitchell
- , Salvatore Milite
- & Giulio Caravagna
-
Article
| Open Access
Functional interactions between neurofibromatosis tumor suppressors underlie Schwann cell tumor de-differentiation and treatment resistance
The molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation of the Schwann lineage in Schwann cell tumours remain to be explored. Here, the authors suggest that NF2 inactivation leads to PAK activation leading to NF1-mutant Schwann cell tumour de-differentiation and resistance to selumetinib.
- Harish N. Vasudevan
- , Emily Payne
- & David R. Raleigh
-
Article
| Open Access
Single-cell multi-omic analysis of the vestibular schwannoma ecosystem uncovers a nerve injury-like state
Vestibular schwannomas are benign tumours which can lead to neurological symptoms and morbidity. Here, the authors use single cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq to identify Schwann cell subtypes in the tumour microenvironment which mimic a nerve injury phenotype.
- Thomas F. Barrett
- , Bhuvic Patel
- & Albert H. Kim
-
Article
| Open Access
Developmental basis of SHH medulloblastoma heterogeneity
The role of developmental pathways in medulloblastoma tumours (MB) with sonic hedgehog (SHH) activation remains to be explored. Here, the authors perform multi-omic analysis and characterise the key transcriptomic and metabolic patterns of highly differentiated cells in SHH MBs.
- Maxwell P. Gold
- , Winnie Ong
- & Ernest Fraenkel
-
Article
| Open Access
Compartments in medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity are connected through differentiation along the granular precursor lineage
The mechanisms regulating the balance between proliferation and differentiation in medulloblastomas with extensive nodularity (MBEN) remain poorly understood. Here, single cell multi-omics and spatial analysis characterises the spatial tissue organisation of MBEN in the context of the developmental trajectory.
- David R. Ghasemi
- , Konstantin Okonechnikov
- & Kristian W. Pajtler
-
Article
| Open Access
Genomic and epigenomic integrative subtypes of renal cell carcinoma in a Japanese cohort
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes are associated with different molecular alterations and clinical outcomes, but they need to be characterised in diverse cohorts. Here, the authors perform genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic profiling in a large cohort of Japanese RCC cases, and identify epi-subtypes associated with a particular immune environment.
- Akihiko Fukagawa
- , Natsuko Hama
- & Tatsuhiro Shibata
-
Article
| Open Access
Deep learning-based phenotyping reclassifies combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma
Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas (cHCC-CCA) are challenging to diagnose, as they exhibit features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA). Here, the authors use deep learning to re-classify cHCC-CCA tumours into HCC or ICCA based on histopathology images.
- Julien Calderaro
- , Narmin Ghaffari Laleh
- & Jakob Nikolas Kather
-
Article
| Open Access
Accurate integration of single-cell DNA and RNA for analyzing intratumor heterogeneity using MaCroDNA
Here, the authors develop MaCroDNA, an algorithm to integrate single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing data from the same tissue. They use MaCroDNA to show—in agreement with previous studies—that copy number changes can predict progression from Barrett’s esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma.
- Mohammadamin Edrisi
- , Xiru Huang
- & Luay Nakhleh
-
Article
| Open Access
Delineating the early dissemination mechanisms of acral melanoma by integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses
Acral melanoma (AM) is a rare melanoma subtype with unique features, where lymph node metastasis is closely associated with clinical outcomes. Here, the authors use single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to analyse early dissemination, tumour microenvironment, and heterogeneity in AM, and infer metabolic shifts with therapeutic implications.
- Chuanyuan Wei
- , Wei Sun
- & Jianying Gu
-
Article
| Open Access
Fragment-sequencing unveils local tissue microenvironments at single-cell resolution
Experimentally preserving tissue microenvironments remains challenging for single-cell sequencing methods. Here, the authors introduce fragment-sequencing, a method that can preserve three-dimensional microenvironments in single-cell RNA-seq, thus allowing the reconstruction of spatial tissue niches.
- Kristina Handler
- , Karsten Bach
- & Andreas E. Moor
-
Article
| Open Access
Deep topographic proteomics of a human brain tumour
Ultrasensitive, spatially-resolved proteomics techniques allow mapping the organisation of healthy and diseased tissues. Here, the authors develop a workflow for spatially-resolved, quantitative tissue proteomics with spatially aware statistics and clustering, with which they characterise a human atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumour at different spatial resolutions.
- Simon Davis
- , Connor Scott
- & Roman Fischer
-
Article
| Open Access
Single-cell morphological and topological atlas reveals the ecosystem diversity of human breast cancer
Whole-slide images (WSI) and digital pathology are valuable approaches for the analysis of tumours and their microenvironments. Here, the authors present scMTOP, a framework to characterise tumour ecosystems and intercellular relationships at the single-cell level from WSIs, which they apply to breast cancer samples.
- Shen Zhao
- , De-Pin Chen
- & Zhi-Ming Shao
-
Article
| Open Access
Single-cell analysis reveals altered tumor microenvironments of relapse- and remission-associated pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Single-cell RNA-seq could help identify acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients at high risk of relapse after therapy. Here, the authors use single-cell RNA-seq from paediatric AML samples to construct a 7-gene signature that can identify malignant cells at diagnosis, which are distinctly associated with relapse or complete remission.
- Hope Mumme
- , Beena E. Thomas
- & Manoj Bhasin
-
Article
| Open Access
Genomic signatures of past and present chromosomal instability in Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma
Genome complexity is a distinguishing feature of advanced cancers in contrast to precancerous conditions. Here, by analysing chromosomal copy-number evolution in early cancers and precancerous lesions of the oesophagus, the authors reveal signatures of ongoing chromosomal instability and its role in promoting tumour progression.
- Chunyang Bao
- , Richard W. Tourdot
- & Cheng-Zhong Zhang
-
Article
| Open Access
Performance of tumour microenvironment deconvolution methods in breast cancer using single-cell simulated bulk mixtures
Multiple computational approaches have been developed for the deconvolution of cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME) using bulk RNA-seq data. Here, the authors use breast cancer single-cell RNA-seq data to produce simulated bulk data, with which they compare the performance of nine TME deconvolution methods.
- Khoa A. Tran
- , Venkateswar Addala
- & Nicola Waddell
-
Article
| Open Access
Coordinated single-cell tumor microenvironment dynamics reinforce pancreatic cancer subtype
Multiple studies have characterised the tumour microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using single-cell RNA-seq. Here, the authors integrate the data from such single-cell studies to provide a cohesive analysis of the PDAC TME, revealing cell types and interactions that are associated with PDAC phenotypes.
- Ki Oh
- , Yun Jae Yoo
- & Richard A. Moffitt
-
Article
| Open Access
Molecular features and clinical implications of the heterogeneity in Chinese patients with HER2-low breast cancer
HER2-low breast cancer has recently been defined as a potential subtype for sensitivity to novel antibody-drug conjugates. Here, the authors analyse a multiomics cohort of 434 HER2-low patients and find an altered molecular status compared to other subtypes and the interpatient heterogeneity within this subtype.
- Lei-Jie Dai
- , Ding Ma
- & Zhi-Ming Shao
-
Article
| Open Access
Spatial transcriptomics reveals distinct and conserved tumor core and edge architectures that predict survival and targeted therapy response
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is known to contain altered tumour cells within both the tumour core and leading edge. Here, the authors utilise spatial transcriptomics to characterise differences in gene expression and ligand-receptor architecture between areas of the tumour.
- Rohit Arora
- , Christian Cao
- & Pinaki Bose
-
Article
| Open Access
Resolving the spatial architecture of myeloma and its microenvironment at the single-cell level
The spatial architecture of multiple myeloma remains to be explored. Here, the authors perform bulk and single cell sequencing for samples from newly diagnosed patients and reveal gene signatures associated with focal lesions and spatial heterogeneity in the tumour microenvironment.
- Lukas John
- , Alexandra M. Poos
- & Niels Weinhold
-
Article
| Open Access
Obesity-associated changes in molecular biology of primary breast cancer
The association between obesity and breast cancer biology remains understudied in humans. Here, using a large retrospective data collection, the authors identify obesity associated changes in the genomic, transcriptomic profile, and the tumor microenvironment of primary untreated breast tumors.
- Ha-Linh Nguyen
- , Tatjana Geukens
- & Christine Desmedt
-
Article
| Open Access
Identification of transcriptional programs using dense vector representations defined by mutual information with GeneVector
In single-cell RNA-seq analyses, it would be critical to measure the relationships between genes. Here, the authors develop a framework for single-cell dimensionality reduction that incorporates gene-specific relationships - GeneVector -, and use it for tasks such as annotating cell types and analysing pathway variation after treatment.
- Nicholas Ceglia
- , Zachary Sethna
- & Andrew McPherson
-
Article
| Open Access
Cancer-associated fibroblast classification in single-cell and spatial proteomics data
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have different subtypes and play diverse roles in the tumour microenvironment. Here, the authors use single-cell RNA-seq and multiplex imaging mass cytometry data to propose a CAF classification scheme of nine subtypes across different cancer types.
- Lena Cords
- , Sandra Tietscher
- & Bernd Bodenmiller
-
Article
| Open Access
Proteogenomics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Many clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients do not respond or develop resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Sunitinib. Here, the authors perform a proteogenomics analysis of Chinese ccRCC patients treated with Sunitinib and develop a multi-omics classifier to distinguish responders from non-responders.
- Hailiang Zhang
- , Lin Bai
- & Chen Ding
-
Article
| Open Access
Mutational signature dynamics shaping the evolution of oesophageal adenocarcinoma
It is critical to understand what drives the progression of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) from a pre-cancerous state. Here, the authors use whole-genome sequencing to characterise the mutational processes and drivers of OAC progression from Barrett’s Oesophagus, as well as their prognostic associations.
- Sujath Abbas
- , Oriol Pich
- & Maria Secrier
-
Article
| Open Access
Spatial cellular architecture predicts prognosis in glioblastoma
Intra-tumoral heterogeneity and cell-state plasticity contribute to the development of therapeutic resistance in glioblastoma (GBM). Here the authors use two deep learning models to predict spatial transcriptional programs and prognosis from histology images in GBM.
- Yuanning Zheng
- , Francisco Carrillo-Perez
- & Olivier Gevaert
-
Article
| Open Access
Cell facilitation promotes growth and survival under drug pressure in breast cancer
In cancer, interactions between treatment-sensitive and resistant cells can influence the effectiveness of therapies. Here, the authors use experimental and mathematical models to explore interactions between ER+ breast cancer cell lineages that are sensitive or resistant to CDK4/6 inhibition, revealing the role of facilitative growth.
- Rena Emond
- , Jason I. Griffiths
- & Andrea H. Bild
-
Article
| Open Access
Joint inference of exclusivity patterns and recurrent trajectories from tumor mutation trees
Understanding cancer evolution is crucial for developing effective therapies. Here, authors present TreeMHN, a probabilistic model for inferring exclusivity patterns of genomic events and evolutionary trajectories from intra-tumor phylogenetic trees.
- Xiang Ge Luo
- , Jack Kuipers
- & Niko Beerenwinkel
-
Article
| Open Access
Cancer genomes tolerate deleterious coding mutations through somatic copy number amplifications of wild-type regions
Most of the mutations accumulated in cancer cells are deleterious, and it is unclear how such alterations are tolerated. Here, the authors propose that copy number amplifications could increase the tolerance to deleterious mutations, and analyse the features that could determine the underlying selection process.
- Fabio Alfieri
- , Giulio Caravagna
- & Martin H. Schaefer
-
Article
| Open Access
Pacpaint: a histology-based deep learning model uncovers the extensive intratumor molecular heterogeneity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Rapid and effective molecular subtyping of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is important for prognosis and treatment. Here, the authors develop PACpAInt, a deep learning model for PDAC molecular subtyping from whole-slide histological imaging that enables the analysis of heterogeneity and prognostic predictions.
- Charlie Saillard
- , Flore Delecourt
- & Jerome Cros
-
Article
| Open Access
Skin basal cell carcinomas assemble a pro-tumorigenic spatially organized and self-propagating Trem2+ myeloid niche
Tumor microenvironment elements can influence tumor state, including in skin basal cell carcinomas. Here the authors show that spatially organized and self-propagating TREM2+ tumor associated macrophages promote Ly6D- tumor cell proliferation via secretion of oncostatin M.
- Daniel Haensel
- , Bence Daniel
- & Anthony E. Oro
-
Article
| Open Access
Reversible transitions between noradrenergic and mesenchymal tumor identities define cell plasticity in neuroblastoma
Noradrenergic and mesenchymal cell states have been proposed in neuroblastoma, but their contributions to the tumour are not clearly understood. Here, the authors used in vitro and in vivo models, as well as single-cell RNA-seq, to characterise noradrenergic and mesenchymal cells and their phenotypic plasticity in neuroblastoma.
- Cécile Thirant
- , Agathe Peltier
- & Isabelle Janoueix-Lerosey
-
Article
| Open Access
Nucleocytoplasmic transport of active HER2 causes fractional escape from the DCIS-like state
HER2 receptor aberrations are more common in breast DCIS premalignancy than in breast cancer. Here the authors identify a feedback circuit involving HER2 nucleocytoplasmic transport that may explain why some DCIS lesions progress and others do not.
- Lixin Wang
- , B. Bishal Paudel
- & Kevin A. Janes
-
Article
| Open Access
Epigenetic and transcriptomic characterization reveals progression markers and essential pathways in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Tumour heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains to be investigated. Here, the integration of spatial omics, transcriptional and chromatin accessibility profiling at the single-nucleus level and bulk proteogenomics data reveal markers and pathways important for ccRCC.
- Yige Wu
- , Nadezhda V. Terekhanova
- & Feng Chen
-
Article
| Open Access
Clonal origin and development of high hyperdiploidy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
High hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (HeH ALL) is driven by nonrandom chromosomal gains, which have been suggested to arise early - even before birth. Here, the authors use single-cell whole genome sequencing and in silico modelling to show that HeH ALL aneuploidies could originate early and follow punctuated evolution.
- Eleanor L. Woodward
- , Minjun Yang
- & Kajsa Paulsson
-
Article
| Open Access
Cellular mechanisms of heterogeneity in NF2-mutant schwannoma
Schwannomas are mainly caused by NF2 tumour suppressor inactivation, but they display intratumoural heterogeneity. Here the authors show that this heterogeneity is caused by the loss of polarity and acquisition of different programmes of ErbB ligand production in NF2-mutant Schwann cells.
- Christine Chiasson-MacKenzie
- , Jeremie Vitte
- & Andrea I. McClatchey
-
Article
| Open Access
Spontaneously evolved progenitor niches escape Yap oncogene addiction in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas
It remains unclear how spontaneous Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors escape Yap dependency. Here, the authors show that lineage plasticity promotes spontaneous relapse following YAP ablation and reveal key transcriptional drivers that overcome YAP addiction in PDAC.
- Shigekazu Murakami
- , Shannon M. White
- & Chunling Yi
-
Article
| Open Access
A variational algorithm to detect the clonal copy number substructure of tumors from scRNA-seq data
The inference of clonal architectures in cancer using single-cell RNA-seq data remains challenging. Here, the authors develop SCEVAN, a variational algorithm for copy number-based clonal structure inference in single-cell RNA-seq data that can characterise evolution and heterogeneity in the tumour and the microenvironment.
- Antonio De Falco
- , Francesca Caruso
- & Michele Ceccarelli
-
Article
| Open Access
Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the stepwise progression of head and neck cancer
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) undergo a stepwise progression from normal tissues. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind such progression, here the authors profile HNSCC tumors at different stages using single-cell RNA-seq, and observe the role of interactions with the tumor microenvironment.
- Ji-Hye Choi
- , Bok-Soon Lee
- & Chul-Ho Kim
-
Comment
| Open AccessLarge-scale genomic analyses reveal alterations and mechanisms underlying clonal evolution and immune evasion in esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancers feature distinct manifestations between and within patients which complicate precision diagnosis, prognosis, and patient care. New genomic and epigenomic research uncovers novel mechanisms underlying both inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity in esophageal cancer, with significant biological and translational implications.
- De-Chen Lin
-
Article
| Open Access
Tracking the evolution of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma under dynamic immune selection by multi-omics sequencing
It is essential to understand heterogeneity and evolution at different omics levels in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here, the authors use multi-omics to analyse heterogeneity and evolution in ESCC patient samples, and characterise the levels of immune infiltration as well as selective pressure from the tumour microenvironment.
- Sijia Cui
- , Nicholas McGranahan
- & Shixiu Wu
-
Article
| Open Access
Multilevel proteomic analyses reveal molecular diversity between diffuse-type and intestinal-type gastric cancer
The molecular differences between the two major gastric cancer subtypes diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) and intestinaltype gastric cancer (IGC) remain to be investigated. Here, integrated analysis of proteome, phospho-proteome and transcription factor activity for DGC and IGC reveals potential subtypes.
- Wenhao Shi
- , Yushen Wang
- & Chen Ding
-
Article
| Open Access
Genomic and microenvironmental heterogeneity shaping epithelial-to-mesenchymal trajectories in cancer
The intermediate states of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer require further molecular characterisation. Here, the authors develop a method to evaluate EMT transformation and trajectories in cancer transcriptomics data, characterising EMT macro-states, including a hybrid state, and EMT hallmarks.
- Guidantonio Malagoli Tagliazucchi
- , Anna J. Wiecek
- & Maria Secrier
Tumor phylogeography reveals block-shaped spatial heterogeneity and the mode of evolution in Hepatocellular Carcinoma