Cellular heterogeneity landscape in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Issue 10 (31st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Lianhao; Zhang, Siwei; Yu, Siyang; Ma, Fen; Wang, Bozhi; Zhang, Congcong; Sun, Ji; Mao, Xionghui; Wei, Lanlan
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 147:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 2879
• Page End: 2890
• Publication Date: 2020-07-31
• Subjects: biomarkers -- intratumor heterogeneity -- laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma -- single‐cell sequencing; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

Abstract: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a highly malignant tumor originated from respiratory system. Although there have been many improvements in therapy until now, reducing the high mortality remains difficult. Understanding the cellular heterogeneity of LSCC could contribute to improve this problem. Single‐cell RNA sequencing was applied to dissect the cell composition and molecular characteristics of LSCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry staining of the LSCC tissues was performed to identify the spatial location of tumor cells. Survival analysis of marker genes was executed in The Cancer Genome Atlas to verify the correlation between each cell clusters and patients' prognosis. The LSCC tissue cells were finely grouped into various clusters, including tumor cells, immune cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Notably, in tumor cells, keratinocyte‐like cells were in the core of tumor while malignant proliferating cells were located at the tumor edge. The malignant proliferating cells were correlated with poor prognosis. In summary, this is the first study to delineate a landscape of the LSCC intratumor heterogeneity. Our work might help researchers have a better understanding for tumor progression. Abstract : What's new Tumor heterogeneity may be an essential reason for ineffective treatment in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Here, using single‐cell RNA sequencing, the authors dissected the cell composition and molecular characteristics of two LSCC tissues. A keratinocyte‐like cell type marked by SPRR3 and a malignant proliferating cell type marked by MKI67 were found to present a unique spatial distribution and correlate with poor prognosis. Immune cells constituted a high proportion of cells in the tumor tissues. This study delineates a first landscape of the intra‐tumor cellular heterogeneity in LSCC and may pave the way for a better understanding of tumor progression.