Single-cell RNA sequencing in cancer: Applications, advances, and emerging challenges

Abstract

Cancer has become one of the greatest threats to human health, and new technologies are urgently needed to further clarify the mechanisms of cancer so that better detection and treatment strategies can be developed. At present, extensive genomic analysis and testing of clinical specimens shape the insights into carcinoma. Nevertheless, carcinoma of humans is a complex ecosystem of cells, including carcinoma cells and immunityrelated and stroma-related subsets, with accurate characteristics obscured by extensive genome-related approaches. A growing body of research shows that sequencing of single-cell RNA (scRNA-seq) is emerging to be an effective way for dissecting human tumor tissue at single-cell resolution, presenting one prominent way for explaining carcinoma biology. This review summarizes the research progress of scRNA-seq in the field of tumors, focusing on the application of scRNA-seq in tumor circulating cells, tumor stem cells, tumor drug resistance, the tumor microenvironment, and so on, which provides a new perspective for tumor research.

Updates on Immunotherapy and Immune Landscape in Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

“…We will introduce some basic concepts and common processes of scRNAseq technology, including scRNAseq library preparation and common computational analyses. In detail, single-cell analysis technologies, including scRNAseq, and their applications in cancer immunology have been previously reviewed in detail [ 51 , 117 ]. Different scRNAseq library preparation methods have been reviewed [ 118 , 119 ].…”

“…Currently, scRNAseq, which is not limited by the determining markers, has dissected tumor heterogeneity in multiple types of human solid cancers [ 51 ]. In ccRCC, a few studies with scRNAseq have just begun to investigate immune cell heterogeneity, immune pathogenesis, and response to immunotherapy [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ].…”

“…In general, the sample sizes are small due to the cost associated with scRNAseq. It is of the utmost importance to prepare freshly isolated single cells for the successful generation of the cDNA library [ 51 ]. Single-cell suspension with less than 70% of cell viability is not recommended for library preparation.…”

“…Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) technology dissects the dynamic and heterogeneous tumor microenvironment by characterizing the transcriptome and genome at the single-cell level, providing a prominent method for painting a detailed picture of the immune landscape when studying cancer immunology [ 51 , 52 ]. Integrating various components of scRNAseq transcriptome into multi-omics measurements provides a better understanding of cell identity, fate, and function in the context of both normal biology and pathology [ 52 , 53 ].…”

The Dual Role of Innate Lymphoid and Natural Killer Cells in Cancer. from Phenotype to Single-Cell Transcriptomics, Functions and Clinical Uses

“…One main reason for this is the lack of understanding of the relationship between their phenotype and their functions. In this context, scRNA-seq applications in cancer research have followed one another with crucial new findings [244]. The extension to diagnostic and clinical settings might suggest new therapeutic options.…”