ADVANCED SINGLE-CELL AND SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMICS IN CERVICAL CANCER: UNRAVELING HETEROGENEITY, MICROENVIRONMENT DYNAMICS, AND THERAPEUTIC AVENUES

• Dr. Elivra M. Jathoren

  Department of Molecular Oncology, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India

  Author

• Dr. Tashiro V. Mekusen

  Division of Genomic Medicine, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan

  Author

• Prof. Luneza R. Thavong

  Center for Cancer Systems Biology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  Author

• Dr. Camilo D. Fenyar

  Institute of Precision Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

  Author

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant global health challenge, marked by incredible complexity and diverse cell populations within its tumor environment. While traditional methods gave us a basic understanding, they often missed the intricate details. This review dives into how two revolutionary technologies – single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) – are changing the game in cervical cancer research. ScRNA-seq lets us zoom in on individual cells, revealing hidden cancer cell groups, rare but crucial "stem" cells, and the many different immune and support cells in the tumor. ST, on the other hand, keeps the tissue intact, showing us exactly where these cells are located and how they interact, giving us a real "map" of the tumor. Together, these powerful tools have shed light on everything from how HPV integrates into cells to why some treatments stop working, and how the cancer evolves and spreads. They're also speeding up the discovery of new ways to diagnose the disease, predict its course, and find better treatments. Sure, there are still some technical hurdles, but rapid advances in computing and sequencing are helping us overcome them. Ultimately, combining scRNA-seq and ST, especially with other "omics" approaches that look at proteins and other molecules, promises to open up new doors for finding targets and creating personalized treatments for cervical cancer, leading to more effective and kinder therapies for patients everywhere.

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