Mapping cancer biology in space - applications and perspectives on spatial omics for oncology - review

Sep 21, 2026

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Technologies including bulk and single-cell sequencing have advanced tumor biology, revealing that tumors build spatial architectures that shape cancer mechanisms. Growing work now maps tissues in spatial context using spatial and targeted sampling approaches to address oncology needs such as tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, and spatially localized biomarkers. This study focuses on spatial technologies that define omics profiles in situ, summarizes novel oncology findings enabled by these approaches, and proposes perspectives for therapeutic strategies and future technological development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time1 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Lee et al. Molecular Cancer (2024) 23:26 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-024-01941-z](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-024-01941-z) Molecular Cancer REVIEW Open Access Mapping cancer biology in space: applications and perspectives on spatial omics for oncology Sumin Lee1,2†, Gyeongjun Kim3†, JinYoung Lee4, Amos C. Lee2,5*† and Sunghoon Kwon 1,3,5,6,7*† Abstract Technologies to decipher cellular biology, such as bulk sequencing technologies and single-cell sequencing technologies, have greatly assisted novel findings in tumor biology. Recent findings in tumor biology suggest that tumors construct architectures that influence the underlying cancerous mechanisms. Increasing research has reported novel techniques to map the tissue in a spatial context or targeted sampling-based characterization and has introduced such technologies to solve oncology regarding tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, and spatially located biomarkers. In this study, we address spatial technologies that can delineate the omics profile in a spatial context, novel findings discovered via spatial technologies in oncology, and suggest perspectives regarding therapeutic approaches and further technological developments. Introduction Cancer research has a long history dating back to ancient times, with our understanding of cancer growing as technology advances [1]. Especially, microscopic observations and staining methods have made significant progress in †Sumin Lee, Gyeongjun Kim, Amos C. Lee and Sunghoon Kwon contributed equally to this work. *Correspondence: Amos C. Lee [amoslee89@gmail.com](amoslee89@gmail.com)[ ](amoslee89@gmail.com)Sunghoon Kwon [skwon@snu.ac.kr](skwon@snu.ac.kr) 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea 2 Meteor Biotech,, Co. Ltd, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea 3 Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea 4 Division of Engineering Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5S 3H6, Canada 5 Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea 6 Institutes of Entrepreneurial BioConvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea 7 Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea cancer research [2]. Microscopic observations have led to the discovery of fundamental principles in tumor biology, such as the identification of cells as the basic unit of organisms, the abnormal dividing phenomenon of cancer cells, the morphological distinction of carcinoma subtypes, and the discovery of cancer cells originating from normal cells [2–5]. To better distinguish cells, Joseph von Gerlach first stained tissues with carmine [5], which eventually led to the discovery of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining [6], a staining method widely used these days to examine the overall cellular organization [7]. Immunostaining and hybridization-based staining methods have been developed to detect antigenic heterogeneity, biomarker discovery, therapeutic prognosis, spatial heterogeneity, etc. [8–15]. In addition to the visual examination of cancer tissues, advanced methods to analyze the cellular composition of cancer have been developed [16]. The Human Genome Project outputted the full human genome, critically based on the belief that cancer cells derived from normal cells due to gene mutations, thus serving as a code that can be compared to obtain cancer-related gene sequences [17, 18]. In 2005, the Cancer Genome Atlas Project was © The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indica

FAQs

What problems in oncology does spatial omics aim to address?

Spatial omics targets tumor heterogeneity, the tumor microenvironment, and spatially located biomarkers, helping clarify cancer mechanisms in their tissue context.

Which technologies are discussed as foundational for understanding tumor biology?

Bulk sequencing and single-cell sequencing technologies are described as major tools that enabled novel findings in tumor biology.

What is the focus of the study in terms of spatial technologies?

The study examines spatial technologies that delineate omics profiles in a spatial context, reviews oncology insights from these technologies, and outlines perspectives for therapeutic approaches and further developments.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo