Capturing tumour heterogeneity in pre- and post-chemotherapy colorectal cancer ascites-derived cells using single-cell RNA-sequencing

Capturing tumour heterogeneity in pre- and post-chemotherapy colorectal cancer ascites-derived cells using single-cell RNA-sequencing

Dr. Charoensawan and his colleagues have employed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to explore and characterise ascites-derived cells from a colorectal cancer CRC patient. Analysis of epithelial cell subpopulations unveiled only three out of eleven subpopulations with clear contraction after the treatment, suggesting that the majority of the heterogeneous ascites-derived cells were resistant to the treatment, potentially reflecting the poor treatment outcome observed in the patient. Overall, the study showcases highly heterogeneous cancer subpopulations at single-cell resolution, which respond differently to a particular chemotherapy treatment.

DOI: 10.1042/BSR20212093