Single-Cell Transcriptomics for Unlocking Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy: Toward Targeting the Origin of Tumor Development Immunogenicity

Modulation of the tumor microenvironment and mechanism of immunotherapy-based drug resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer, the most frequent female malignancy, is often curable when detected at an early stage. The treatment of metastatic breast cancer is more challenging and may be unresponsive to conventional therapy. Immunotherapy is crucial for treating metastatic breast cancer, but its resistance is a major limitation. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is vital in modulating the immunotherapy response. Various tumor microenvironmental components, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are involved in TME modulation to cause immunotherapy resistance. This review highlights the role of stromal cells in modulating the breast tumor microenvironment, including the involvement of CAF-TAM interaction, alteration of tumor metabolism leading to immunotherapy failure, and other latest strategies, including high throughput genomic screening, single-cell and spatial omics techniques for identifying tumor immune genes regulating immunotherapy response. This review emphasizes the therapeutic approach to overcome breast cancer immune resistance through CAF reprogramming, modulation of TAM polarization, tumor metabolism, and genomic alterations.

Exploring the current landscape of single-cell RNA sequencing applications in gastric cancer research

Gastric cancer (GC) represents a major global health burden and is responsible for a significant number of cancer-related fatalities. Its complex nature, characterized by heterogeneity and aggressive behaviour, poses considerable challenges for effective diagnosis and treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as an important technique, offering unprecedented precision and depth in gene expression profiling at the cellular level. By facilitating the identification of distinct cell populations, rare cells and dynamic transcriptional changes within GC, scRNA-seq has yielded valuable insights into tumour progression and potential therapeutic targets. Moreover, this technology has significantly improved our comprehension of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and its intricate interplay with immune cells, thereby opening avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies. Nonetheless, certain obstacles, including tumour heterogeneity and technical limitations, persist in the field. Current endeavours are dedicated to refining protocols and computational tools to surmount these challenges. In this narrative review, we explore the significance of scRNA-seq in GC, emphasizing its advantages, challenges and potential applications in unravelling tumour heterogeneity and identifying promising therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss recent developments, ongoing efforts to overcome these challenges, and future prospects. Although further enhancements are required, scRNA-seq has already provided valuable insights into GC and holds promise for advancing biomedical research and clinical practice.

Exploring wound management in dental pulp: Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing for global transcriptomic analysis in healthy and inflamed pulpal tissues

The process of wound healing in the dental pulp is characterized by intricate interplay of signalling cascades, cellular responses, and extracellular matrix (ECM). The objective of this research was to examine the intricate interaction between signalling cascades, cellular responses, and extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics that comprise the wound healing process of dental pulp. We conducted a controlled laboratory analysis of transcriptomic landscape of dental pulp tissues, including both healthy and inflamed samples, utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified significant change in cellular composition under carious conditions by analysing samples from 50 patients. Specifically, the proportion of immune cells increased from 25% to 40%, while the proportion of fibroblasts decreased from 20% to 10%. A transition towards ECM remodelling and fibrosis was indicated by this change. In addition, substantial increase inexpression of critical genes including COL1A1, FN1, IL-1B, IL-6 and TNC was detected, indicating that the extracellular matrix (ECM) was actively remodelled and that a robust inflammatory response was present, both of which are vital for tissue repair. Increased cell-cell interactions among B cells, plasma cells, macrophages and MSCs, and fibroblasts were highlighted in our study, demonstrating the intricate cellular dynamics that occur in response to dental pulp injury. The knowledge gained regarding the cellular and molecular processes underlying pulp wound healing contributed to the advancement of knowledge regarding pulp pathology and regeneration. Moreover, it established a foundation for creation of targeted therapeutic interventions that seek to maximize pulp repair and regeneration. This study represented noteworthy achievement in the field of dental surgery, establishing a solid groundwork for subsequent investigations into regenerative medicine, wound healing, and dental tissue restoration.