Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Advanced Therapeutic Targets in Osteosarcoma Through Spatial Transcriptomics
Published on: May 3, 2024
Integrated multiomic analysis and high-throughput screening reveal potential gene targets and synergetic drug
Wenchao Zhang1,2, Lin Qi1,2, Zhongyue Liu1,2
1Department of Orthopedics The Second Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha China.
Abstract:
Although great advances have been made over the past decades, therapeutics for osteosarcoma are quite limited. We performed long-read RNA sequencing and tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteome on osteosarcoma and the adjacent normal tissues, next-generation sequencing (NGS) on paired osteosarcoma samples before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and high-throughput drug combination screen on osteosarcoma cell lines. Single-cell RNA sequencing data were analyzed to reveal the heterogeneity of potential therapeutic target genes. Additionally, we clarified the synergistic mechanisms of doxorubicin (DOX) and HDACs inhibitors for osteosarcoma treatment. Consequently, we identified 2535 osteosarcoma-specific genes and several alternative splicing (AS) events with osteosarcoma specificity and/or patient heterogeneity. Hundreds of potential therapeutic targets were identified among them, which showed the core regulatory roles in osteosarcoma. We also identified 215 inhibitory drugs and 236 synergistic drug combinations for osteosarcoma treatment. More interestingly, the multiomic analysis pointed out the pivotal role of HDAC1 and TOP2A in osteosarcoma. HDAC inhibitors synergized with DOX to suppress osteosarcoma both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HDAC inhibitors synergized with DOX by downregulating SP1 to transcriptionally modulate TOP2A expression. This study provided a comprehensive view of molecular features, therapeutic targets, and synergistic drug combinations for osteosarcoma.
Insights
This study identifies novel therapeutic targets and synergistic drug combinations for osteosarcoma. Doxorubicin combined with HDAC inhibitors shows promise by targeting HDAC1 and TOP2A, offering new treatment strategies for osteosarcoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Osteosarcoma therapeutics remain limited despite advances.
- Understanding molecular heterogeneity is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze osteosarcoma molecular features.
- To identify novel therapeutic targets and synergistic drug combinations.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of combined doxorubicin and HDAC inhibitor therapy.
Main Methods:
- Long-read RNA sequencing and quantitative proteome analysis.
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of pre- and post-chemotherapy samples.
- Single-cell RNA sequencing and high-throughput drug screening.
- In vitro and in vivo validation of drug synergy.
Main Results:
- Identified 2535 osteosarcoma-specific genes and alternative splicing events.
- Discovered hundreds of potential therapeutic targets and 236 synergistic drug combinations.
- Demonstrated that HDAC inhibitors synergize with doxorubicin (DOX) by downregulating SP1 to modulate TOP2A expression, suppressing osteosarcoma growth.
Conclusions:
- This multiomic study provides a comprehensive molecular landscape of osteosarcoma.
- Identified key targets like HDAC1 and TOP2A for therapeutic intervention.
- Validated a synergistic drug combination strategy for osteosarcoma treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

