Abstract
Malignant cell growth is fueled by interactions between tumor cells and the stromal cells composing the tumor microenvironment. The human liver is a major site of tumors and metastases, but molecular identities and intercellular interactions of different cell types have not been resolved in these pathologies. Here, we apply single cell RNA‐sequencing and spatial analysis of malignant and adjacent non‐malignant liver tissues from five patients with cholangiocarcinoma or liver metastases. We find that stromal cells exhibit recurring, patient‐independent expression programs, and reconstruct a ligand–receptor map that highlights recurring tumor–stroma interactions. By combining transcriptomics of laser‐capture microdissected regions, we reconstruct a zonation atlas of hepatocytes in the non‐malignant sites and characterize the spatial distribution of each cell type across the tumor microenvironment. Our analysis provides a resource for understanding human liver malignancies and may expose potential points of interventions. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000458852Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Molecular Systems BiologyVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
EMBO PressSubject
human cell atlas; liver cancer; single cell RNAseq; spatial transcriptomics; tumor-stroma interactionsOrganisational unit
09711 - Moor, Andreas / Moor, Andreas
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