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Spatial Transcriptome-Wide Profiling of Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveals Intra-Tumoral Molecular and Subtype Heterogeneity.

Zicheng ZhangXujie SunYutao LiuYibo ZhangZijian YangJiyan DongNan WangJianming YingMeng ZhouLin Yang
Published in: Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (2024)
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid growth and early metastasis and is susceptible to treatment resistance and recurrence. Understanding the intra-tumoral spatial heterogeneity in SCLC is crucial for improving patient outcomes and clinically relevant subtyping. In this study, a spatial whole transcriptome-wide analysis of 25 SCLC patients at sub-histological resolution using GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling technology is performed. This analysis deciphered intra-tumoral multi-regional heterogeneity, characterized by distinct molecular profiles, biological functions, immune features, and molecular subtypes within spatially localized histological regions. Connections between different transcript-defined intra-tumoral phenotypes and their impact on patient survival and therapeutic response are also established. Finally, a gene signature, termed ITHtyper, based on the prevalence of intra-tumoral heterogeneity levels, which enables patient risk stratification from bulk RNA-seq profiles is identified. The prognostic value of ITHtyper is rigorously validated in independent multicenter patient cohorts. This study introduces a preliminary tumor-centric, regionally targeted spatial transcriptome resource that sheds light on previously unexplored intra-tumoral spatial heterogeneity in SCLC. These findings hold promise to improve tumor reclassification and facilitate the development of personalized treatments for SCLC patients.
Keyphrases
  • single cell
  • rna seq
  • small cell lung cancer
  • case report
  • genome wide
  • gene expression
  • risk factors
  • ejection fraction
  • newly diagnosed
  • brain metastases
  • cross sectional
  • machine learning
  • data analysis