Spatially resolved transcriptomics reveals the architecture of the tumor-microenvironment interface.
| Publication Type | Academic Article |
| Authors | Hunter M, Moncada R, Weiss J, Yanai I, White R |
| Journal | Nat Commun |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 6278 |
| Date Published | 11/01/2021 |
| ISSN | 2041-1723 |
| Keywords | Neoplasms, Transcriptome, Tumor Microenvironment |
| Abstract | During tumor progression, cancer cells come into contact with various non-tumor cell types, but it is unclear how tumors adapt to these new environments. Here, we integrate spatially resolved transcriptomics, single-cell RNA-seq, and single-nucleus RNA-seq to characterize tumor-microenvironment interactions at the tumor boundary. Using a zebrafish model of melanoma, we identify a distinct "interface" cell state where the tumor contacts neighboring tissues. This interface is composed of specialized tumor and microenvironment cells that upregulate a common set of cilia genes, and cilia proteins are enriched only where the tumor contacts the microenvironment. Cilia gene expression is regulated by ETS-family transcription factors, which normally act to suppress cilia genes outside of the interface. A cilia-enriched interface is conserved in human patient samples, suggesting it is a conserved feature of human melanoma. Our results demonstrate the power of spatially resolved transcriptomics in uncovering mechanisms that allow tumors to adapt to new environments. |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41467-021-26614-z |
| PubMed ID | 34725363 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC8560802 |