Researchers have long known that mesothelioma tumor cells have diverse characteristics. These differences, known as cell heterogeneity, have a direct impact on how the disease progresses and what treatments will work best, and understanding them is essential to the successful development of targeted therapies. The differences have also made accurate diagnosis much more challenging. A group of researchers recently used single-cell RNA sequencing to study this phenomenon and learn more about mesothelioma from cell cultures, from the tumor microenvironment, and from circulating tumor cells.

Study Shows Mesothelioma Cells Have Unique Characteristics Depending on Origin

Researchers from the University Health Network of Toronto, Canada, and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois  found that while cell culture genes were involved in proliferation and cell death, the circulating tumor cells were associated with cancer cell stemness, which is the ability to self-renew and differentiate into other cell types. The tumor microenvironment cells interacted with the tumor cells, facilitating cell transition and immune responses.

The researchers theorize that the distinct gene signatures in the different mesothelioma cell subpopulation each play important roles in the development of the tumor and how it progresses, and say that each one offers its own novel target for treatment. They hope that identifying each of these separate gene signatures will help researchers offer more effective, personalized treatments for malignant mesothelioma patients and improve patient outcomes.

Researchers Believe Understanding of Mesothelioma Cell Heterogeneity Is Essential

In discussing their findings, the researchers explained that in working to identify the unique gene signature of each mesothelioma cell cluster and their distinct functional properties, they may have provided “clues to better understand the specific functions contributing to tumorigenesis and progression, so as to search potential novel targets for therapeutic strategies.”

Source – Mesothelioma.net