Single-cell transcriptomes from human kidneys reveal the cellular identity of renal tumors

MD Young, TJ Mitchell, FA Vieira Braga, MGB Tran… - science, 2018 - science.org
science, 2018science.org
Messenger RNA encodes cellular function and phenotype. In the context of human cancer, it
defines the identities of malignant cells and the diversity of tumor tissue. We studied 72,501
single-cell transcriptomes of human renal tumors and normal tissue from fetal, pediatric, and
adult kidneys. We matched childhood Wilms tumor with specific fetal cell types, thus
providing evidence for the hypothesis that Wilms tumor cells are aberrant fetal cells. In adult
renal cell carcinoma, we identified a canonical cancer transcriptome that matched a little …
Messenger RNA encodes cellular function and phenotype. In the context of human cancer, it defines the identities of malignant cells and the diversity of tumor tissue. We studied 72,501 single-cell transcriptomes of human renal tumors and normal tissue from fetal, pediatric, and adult kidneys. We matched childhood Wilms tumor with specific fetal cell types, thus providing evidence for the hypothesis that Wilms tumor cells are aberrant fetal cells. In adult renal cell carcinoma, we identified a canonical cancer transcriptome that matched a little-known subtype of proximal convoluted tubular cell. Analyses of the tumor composition defined cancer-associated normal cells and delineated a complex vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling circuit. Our findings reveal the precise cellular identities and compositions of human kidney tumors.
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