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Single-cell approaches for molecular classification of endocrine tumors
James Koh1, Nancy L Allbritton, Julie A Sosa
1aDepartment of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham bDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina and N.C. State University, Raleigh cDepartments of Surgery and Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
In this review, we summarize recent developments in single-cell technologies that can be employed for the functional and molecular classification of endocrine cells in normal and neoplastic tissue.
Recent Findings:
The emergence of new platforms for the isolation, analysis, and dynamic assessment of individual cell identity and reactive behavior enables experimental deconstruction of intratumoral heterogeneity and other contexts where variability in cell signaling and biochemical responsiveness inform biological function and clinical presentation. These tools are particularly appropriate for examining and classifying endocrine neoplasias, as the clinical sequelae of these tumors are often driven by disrupted hormonal responsiveness secondary to compromised cell signaling. Single-cell methods allow for multidimensional experimental designs incorporating both spatial and temporal parameters with the capacity to probe dynamic cell signaling behaviors and kinetic response patterns dependent upon sequential agonist challenge.
Summary:
Intratumoral heterogeneity in the provenance, composition, and biological activity of different forms of endocrine neoplasia presents a significant challenge for prognostic assessment. Single-cell technologies provide an array of powerful new approaches uniquely well suited for dissecting complex endocrine tumors. Studies examining the relationship between clinical behavior and tumor compositional variations in cellular activity are now possible, providing new opportunities to deconstruct the underlying mechanisms of endocrine neoplasia.
Insights
Recent single-cell technologies offer powerful tools for classifying endocrine cells and understanding endocrine neoplasias. These methods help deconstruct tumor heterogeneity and reveal mechanisms driving disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Endocrine cells play critical roles in hormonal regulation.
- Endocrine neoplasias are complex tumors often driven by disrupted cell signaling.
- Intratumoral heterogeneity poses challenges for prognostic assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in single-cell technologies.
- To explore their application in functional and molecular classification of endocrine cells.
- To highlight their utility in studying normal and neoplastic endocrine tissues.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell isolation and analysis platforms.
- Dynamic assessment of cell identity and behavior.
- Multidimensional experimental designs incorporating spatial and temporal parameters.
- Probing cell signaling and kinetic response patterns.
Main Results:
- New platforms enable deconstruction of intratumoral heterogeneity.
- Single-cell methods are suitable for classifying endocrine neoplasias.
- These tools allow examination of disrupted hormonal responsiveness and cell signaling.
- Dynamic cell signaling and response patterns can be probed.
Conclusions:
- Single-cell technologies provide novel approaches for dissecting complex endocrine tumors.
- They facilitate studies linking clinical behavior to tumor composition and cellular activity.
- These methods offer new opportunities to understand the mechanisms of endocrine neoplasia.
