Single-cell RNA sequencing to map tumor heterogeneity in gastric carcinogenesis paving roads to individualized therapy

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Levi

Gastric cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease shaped by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) containing cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and more. Cancer-associated cell populations can remodel the TME and alter disease progression and therapeutic response. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides molecular, cellular, and immunological resolution to study TME composition, transcriptional dynamics, and intratumor heterogeneity. The review also highlights key immune cell roles, discusses spatial transcriptomes for local communication mapping, and explains how these single-cell approaches support individualized therapy and translation to clinical practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy (2024) 73:233 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-024-03820-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-024-03820-4) Single‑cell RNA sequencing to map tumor heterogeneity in gastric carcinogenesis paving roads to individualized therapy Jiao Xu1 · Bixin Yu2 · Fan Wang3 · Jin Yang1,2,3,4 Received: 23 July 2024 / Accepted: 27 August 2024 / Published online: 13 September 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous disease with a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) that encompasses multiple cell types including cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and so on. Cancer-associated cells could remodel the TME and influence the progression of GC and therapeutic response. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), as an emerging technology, has provided unprecedented insights into the complicated biological composition and characteristics of TME at the molecular, cellular, and immunological resolutions, offering a new idea for GC studies. In this review, we discuss the novel findings from scRNA-seq datasets revealing the origin and evolution of GC, and scRNA-seq is a powerful tool for investigating transcriptional dynamics and intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) in GC. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that the vital immune cells within TME, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, and stromal cells, play an important role in the disease progression. Additionally, we also overview that how scRNA-seq facilitates our understanding about the effects on individualized therapy of GC patients. Spatial transcriptomes (ST) have been designed to determine spatial distribution and capture local intercellular communication networks, enabling a further understanding of the relationship between the spatial background of a particular cell and its functions. In summary, scRNA-seq and other single-cell technologies provide a valuable perspective for molecular and pathological disease characteristics and hold promise for advancing basic research and clinical practice in GC. Keywords Gastric cancer · Tumor microenvironment · Immune cell · Single-cell RNA sequencing · Spatial transcriptomes Abbreviations ACRG Asian Cancer Research Group APB Alternate promoter burden AR Androgen receptor * Fan Wang [wangfan230@outlook.com](wangfan230@outlook.com) * Jin Yang [yangjin@xjtu.edu.cn](yangjin@xjtu.edu.cn) 1 Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road., Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China 2 Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road., Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China 3 Phase I Clinical Trial Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China 4 Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China CAF CAFEndMT CAG CSC CTC CTLA-4 CTShigh CXCL CXCRC1Qhigh DC DGC DIC DZIP1 EBV eCAF ECM EMT GC Cancer-associated fibroblast Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition CAF Chronic atrophic gastritis Cancer stem cell Circulating tumor cell Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 Cathepsinhigh C-X-C motif chemokine ligand C-X-C motif chemokine receptor Complement 1qhigh Dendritic cell Diffuse-type GC Disseminated intravascular coagulation DAZ interacting zinc finger protein 1 Epstein-Barr virus Extracellular matrix CAF Extracellular matrix Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition Gastric cancer GI GITR Gkn3 GR GSRCC HAGC ICI ICBiCAFIFN-γ ILILC2 IM ITH IGCISG15 LM LAG3 LNM MDSC MALT MALAT1 MSI MSI-high NACT NK cell PM PBMC PDGFRβ POSTNPD-L1 PD-1 PDX scATAC-seq scBCR-seq scRNA-seq scTCR-seq scCHIP-seq SPEM SL SM ST TAN TAM Tex TCGA TIB TIGIT TLS Gastrointestinal cancer Gl

FAQs

What problem does the article address about gastric cancer?

It focuses on gastric cancer as a highly heterogeneous disease with a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) that influences progression and therapeutic response.

How does single-cell RNA sequencing contribute to studying gastric carcinogenesis?

scRNA-seq reveals the origin and evolution of gastric cancer from single-cell datasets and enables analysis of transcriptional dynamics and intratumor heterogeneity.

Which cell types and technologies are emphasized for understanding the TME and therapy?

Key immune cells such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and stromal cells are highlighted, and spatial transcriptomes are discussed for determining spatial distribution and local intercellular communication networks.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Levi