Abstract 2120: Spatially resolved transcriptomic analysis revealed the molecular characteristics of the worst pattern of invasion in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Abstract Worst pattern of invasion (WPOI), defined by the presence of dispersed satellite nodules ≥1 mm from the primary tumor, is strongly associated with LNM; however, the molecular features that functionally link invasive histopathology to metastasis are not fully characterized. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between histopathology invasion pattern and metastatic progression at the molecular level, and to determine whether invasion patterns share early metastatic features. Accordingly, we performed full-length single-cell mRNA sequencing using Spatially resolved Laser Activated Cell Sorting (SLACS), which isolates regions of histologically interest from Hematoxylin and Eosin (H Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2120.