Mapping tumours and genetic changes within them could lead to the development of new cancer treatments. The Human Tumor Atlas Network has provided detailed maps of several cancers, shedding light on how cancers form, evolve, and become resistant to treatment.
Cancer develops from genetic mutations that cause cells to grow uncontrollably. Recent advancements in tools and methods have allowed researchers to analyze individual cells within tumours, revealing their functions and interactions.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis mapped tumour regions from 78 people with various types of cancer, using single-cell sequencing to measure gene activity in each cell. They found that cancer cells form distinct clusters called microregions, which evolve genetically and contribute to treatment resistance.
The Human Tumor Atlas Network also discovered that some cancers, such as colon cancer, can originate from multiple cells working together. Biomarkers identified by researchers at Vanderbilt University can monitor tumour evolution and predict the likelihood of precancerous lesions becoming cancerous.
Surprisingly, samples from the same individual with metastatic breast cancer were genetically similar over time, contrary to expectations of evolving mutations. An algorithm developed at Princeton University can quantify cancerous and non-cancerous cells in tumours to understand how they interact and grow.
These findings bring us closer to understanding cancer formation and evolution, potentially improving treatment strategies. This research could help personalize cancer treatments for individual patients, matching the right therapy to the right patient at the right time. The implications of these discoveries may have a significant impact on cancer care and outcomes in the future.