Single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrates the molecular and cellular reprogramming of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

N Kim, HK Kim, K Lee, Y Hong, JH Cho… - Nature …, 2020 - nature.com
N Kim, HK Kim, K Lee, Y Hong, JH Cho, JW Choi, JI Lee, YL Suh, BM Ku, HH Eum, S Choi…
Nature communications, 2020nature.com
Advanced metastatic cancer poses utmost clinical challenges and may present molecular
and cellular features distinct from an early-stage cancer. Herein, we present single-cell
transcriptome profiling of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent histological
lung cancer type diagnosed at stage IV in over 40% of all cases. From 208,506 cells
populating the normal tissues or early to metastatic stage cancer in 44 patients, we identify a
cancer cell subtype deviating from the normal differentiation trajectory and dominating the …
Abstract
Advanced metastatic cancer poses utmost clinical challenges and may present molecular and cellular features distinct from an early-stage cancer. Herein, we present single-cell transcriptome profiling of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent histological lung cancer type diagnosed at stage IV in over 40% of all cases. From 208,506 cells populating the normal tissues or early to metastatic stage cancer in 44 patients, we identify a cancer cell subtype deviating from the normal differentiation trajectory and dominating the metastatic stage. In all stages, the stromal and immune cell dynamics reveal ontological and functional changes that create a pro-tumoral and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Normal resident myeloid cell populations are gradually replaced with monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells, along with T-cell exhaustion. This extensive single-cell analysis enhances our understanding of molecular and cellular dynamics in metastatic lung cancer and reveals potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in cancer-microenvironment interactions.
nature.com