Tumor heterogeneity is one of the key factors leading to diagnostic errors, difficulty in identifying subtle cellular differences, and the occurrence of immune escape. Although single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has elucidated the molecular characteristics and heterogeneity at the single-cell level, it fails to retain spatial location information. In contrast, spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology can simultaneously acquire gene expression information and cellular localization, providing a unique perspective for studying the tumor microenvironment, cell-cell interactions, and other aspects. The integrated application of scRNA-seq and ST technologies enables the analysis of tumor heterogeneity from both molecular and spatial dimensions, offering comprehensive information support for precision medicine. The complementary advantages of these two technologies not only overcome the limitations of traditional methods but also promote the research on complex mechanisms such as tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment, accelerating the translational process of clinical applications.
Mkheidze Mo (Thu,) studied this question.