Promising immunotherapeutic targets in lung cancer based on single-cell RNA sequencing

Abstract

Immunotherapy has made great strides in the treatment of lung cancer, but a significant proportion of patients still do not respond to treatment. Therefore, the identification of novel targets is crucial to improving the response to immunotherapy. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex niche composed of diverse pro-tumor molecules and cell populations, making the function and mechanism of a unique cell subset difficult to understand. However, the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has made it possible to identify cellular markers and understand their potential functions and mechanisms in the TME. In this review, we highlight recent advances emerging from scRNA-seq studies in lung cancer, with a particular focus on stromal cells. We elucidate the cellular developmental trajectory, phenotypic remodeling, and cell interactions during tumor progression. Our review proposes predictive biomarkers and novel targets for lung cancer immunotherapy based on cellular markers identified through scRNA-seq. The identification of novel targets could help improve the response to immunotherapy. The use of scRNA-seq technology could provide new strategies to understand the TME and develop personalized immunotherapy for lung cancer patients.

Application of single-cell sequencing to the research of tumor microenvironment

“…Because the TME, therefore, play an important role in the development and treatment of lung cancer ( 181 , 182 ), so understanding lung tumor TME on time and space diversity is crucial, although the study of immune cells in the TME now has a certain depth, but for the TME another important composition of stromal cells and their secretions research limited ( 183 ). Therefore, future studies may focus on characterizing the TME composition and microenvironment remodeling, as well as the network and functional crosstalk between immune cells and stromal cells in the TME through single-cell sequencing technology with high resolution and high fidelity, so as to provide more strategies for immunotherapy.…”

A review of obstructive sleep apnea and lung cancer: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic options

“…These cirDNAs may carry specific epigenetic modifications for information transfer between OSA and lung cancer ( 95 ). RNA is an important carrier of genetic information, controlling cell growth and differentiation by conducting protein synthesis, transmitting genetic information, and regulating transcription and translation ( 96 ). Chao et al.…”

“…These cirDNAs may carry specific epigenetic modifications for information transfer between OSA and lung cancer (95). RNA is an important carrier of genetic information, controlling cell growth and differentiation by conducting protein synthesis, transmitting genetic information, and regulating transcription and translation (96). Chao et al constructed human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines exposed to IH in vitro and inhibited the proliferation and invasiveness of IH-exposed tumor cells by knocking down the demethylation enzyme ALKB homologous protein 5 (ALKBH5).…”