The implications of single-cell RNA-seq analysis in prostate cancer: unraveling tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic implications and pathways towards personalized therapy.

In recent years, advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, which are highly regarded developments in the current era, particularly the emerging integration of single-cell and spatiotemporal transcriptomics, have enabled a detailed molecular comprehension of the complex regulation of cell fate. The insights obtained from these methodologies are anticipated to significantly contribute to the development of personalized medicine. Currently, single-cell technology is less frequently utilized for prostate cancer compared with other types of tumors. Starting from the perspective of RNA sequencing technology, this review outlined the significance of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in prostate cancer research, encompassing preclinical medicine and clinical applications. We summarize the differences between mouse and human prostate cancer as revealed by scRNA-seq studies, as well as a combination of multi-omics methods involving scRNA-seq to highlight the key molecular targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and drug resistance characteristics of prostate cancer. These studies are expected to provide novel insights for the development of immunotherapy and other innovative treatment strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Furthermore, we explore the potential clinical applications stemming from other single-cell technologies in this review, paving the way for future research in precision medicine.

Feng DC ，Zhu WZ ，Wang J ，Li DX ，Shi X ，Xiong Q ，You J ，Han P ，Qiu S ，Wei Q ，Yang L ... -  《-》

Single-cell RNA sequencing in breast cancer: Understanding tumor heterogeneity and paving roads to individualized therapy.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a novel technology that allows transcriptomic analyses of individual cells. During the past decade, scRNA-seq sensitivity, accuracy, and efficiency have improved due to innovations including more sensitive, automated, and cost-effective single-cell isolation methods with higher throughput as well as ongoing technological development of scRNA-seq protocols. Among the variety of current approaches with distinct features, researchers can choose the most suitable method to carry out their research. By profiling single cells in a complex population mix, scRNA-seq presents great advantages over traditional sequencing methods in dissecting heterogeneity in cell populations hidden in bulk analysis and exploring rare cell types associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis. scRNA-seq studies in recent years in the field of breast cancer research have clustered breast cancer cell populations with different molecular subtypes to identify distinct populations that may correlate with poor prognosis and drug resistance. The technology has also been used to explain tumor microenvironment heterogeneity by identifying distinct immune cell subsets that may be associated with immunosurveillance and are potential immunotherapy targets. Moreover, scRNA-seq has diverse applications in breast cancer research besides exploring heterogeneity, including the analysis of cell-cell communications, regulatory single-cell states, immune cell distributions, and more. scRNA-seq is also a promising tool that can facilitate individualized therapy due to its ability to define cell subsets with potential treatment targets. Although scRNA-seq studies of therapeutic selection in breast cancer are currently limited, the application of this technology in this field is prospective. Joint efforts and original ideas are needed to better implement scRNA-seq technologies in breast cancer research to pave the way for individualized treatment management. This review provides a brief introduction on the currently available scRNA-seq approaches along with their corresponding strengths and weaknesses and may act as a reference for the selection of suitable methods for research. We also discuss the current applications of scRNA-seq in breast cancer research for tumor heterogeneity analysis, individualized therapy, and the other research directions mentioned above by reviewing corresponding published studies. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current scRNA-seq technologies and technical problems that remain to be overcome.

Ding S ，Chen X ，Shen K 《-》

Recent progress and applications of single-cell sequencing technology in breast cancer.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology enables the precise analysis of individual cell transcripts with high sensitivity and throughput. When integrated with multiomics technologies, scRNA-seq significantly enhances the understanding of cellular diversity, particularly within the tumor microenvironment. Similarly, single-cell DNA sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool in cancer research, offering unparalleled insights into the genetic heterogeneity and evolution of tumors. In the context of breast cancer, this technology holds substantial promise for decoding the intricate genomic landscape that drives disease progression, treatment resistance, and metastasis. By unraveling the complexities of tumor biology at a granular level, single-cell DNA sequencing provides a pathway to advancing our comprehension of breast cancer and improving patient outcomes through personalized therapeutic interventions. As single-cell sequencing technology continues to evolve and integrate into clinical practice, its application is poised to revolutionize the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies for breast cancer. This review explores the potential of single-cell sequencing technology to deepen our understanding of breast cancer, highlighting key approaches, recent advancements, and the role of the tumor microenvironment in disease plasticity. Additionally, the review discusses the impact of single-cell sequencing in paving the way for the development of personalized therapies.

Hawsawi YM ，Khoja B ，Aljaylani AO ，Jaha R ，AlDerbi RM ，Alnuman H ，Khan MI ... -  《Frontiers in Genetics》

Single-cell omics traces the heterogeneity of prostate cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.

Prostate cancer is one of the more heterogeneous tumour types. In recent years, with the rapid development of single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptome technologies, researchers have gained a more intuitive and comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of prostate cancer. Tumour-associated epithelial cells; cancer-associated fibroblasts; the complexity of the immune microenvironment, and the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of tumour cells and other cancer-promoting molecules play a crucial role in the growth, invasion, and metastasis of prostate cancer. Single-cell multi-omics biotechnology, especially single-cell transcriptome sequencing, reveals the expression level of single cells with higher resolution and finely dissects the molecular characteristics of different tumour cells. We reviewed the recent literature on prostate cancer cells, focusing on single-cell RNA sequencing. And we analysed the heterogeneity and spatial distribution differences of different tumour cell types. We discussed the impact of novel single-cell omics technologies, such as rich omics exploration strategies, multi-omics joint analysis modes, and deep learning models, on future prostate cancer research. In this review, we have constructed a comprehensive catalogue of single-cell omics studies in prostate cancer. This article aimed to provide a more thorough understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. We summarised and proposed several key issues and directions on applying single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics to understand the heterogeneity of prostate cancer. Finally, we discussed single-cell omics trends and future directions in prostate cancer.

Yu X ，Liu R ，Gao W ，Wang X ，Zhang Y ... -  《-》

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Technological Progress and Biomedical Application in Cancer Research.

Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) is a revolutionary technology that allows for the genomic investigation of individual cells in a population, allowing for the discovery of unusual cells associated with cancer and metastasis. ScRNA-seq has been used to discover different types of cancers with poor prognosis and medication resistance such as lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric cancer. Besides, scRNA-seq is a promising method that helps us comprehend the biological features and dynamics of cell development, as well as other disorders. This review gives a concise summary of current scRNA-seq technology. We also explain the main technological steps involved in implementing the technology. We highlight the present applications of scRNA-seq in cancer research, including tumor heterogeneity analysis in lung cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. In addition, this review elucidates potential applications of scRNA-seq in lineage tracing, personalized medicine, illness prediction, and disease diagnosis, which reveals that scRNA-seq facilitates these events by producing genetic variations on the single-cell level.

Chang X ，Zheng Y ，Xu K 《-》