Immune landscape of viral cancers: Insights from single‐cell sequencing

Abstract

Viral infections trigger a wide range of immune responses thought to drive tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Dissecting virus‐induced changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is therefore crucial to identify key leukocyte populations that may represent novel targets for cancer therapy. Single‐cell sequencing approaches have now been widely applied to the analysis of various tumors, thus enabling multiomics characterization of the highly heterogeneous TIME that bulk‐sequencing cannot fully elucidate. In this review, we summarized key recent findings from sequencing studies of the immune infiltrate and antitumor response in virus‐associated cancers at single cell resolution. Additionally, we also reviewed recent developments in immunotherapy for virus‐associated cancers. We anticipate that the strategic use of single‐cell sequencing will advance our understanding of the TIME of viral cancers, leading to the development of more potent novel treatments.

Diverse intratumoral heterogeneity and immune microenvironment of two HPV‐related cervical cancer types revealed by single‐cell RNA sequencing

“…Among the different histological subtypes of CC, HPV‐related squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent epithelial malignant tumor of the cervix, accounting for 70%–80% of all CC cases. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma (AD) both in true and relative terms 3–5 . Apart from histological variations, some studies have revealed significant genomic and molecular network differences between SCC and AD 6–8 .…”

“…In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma (AD) both in true and relative terms. [3][4][5] Apart from histological variations, some studies have revealed significant genomic and molecular network differences between SCC and AD. [6][7][8] However, data on AD remains scarce due to the inclusion of patients with AD in large case series predominantly composed of patients with SCC.…”