Current state and future prospects of spatial biology in colorectal cancer

Bibliographic Details
Title: Current state and future prospects of spatial biology in colorectal cancer
Authors: Francisco G. Carranza, Fernando C. Diaz, Maria Ninova, Enrique Velazquez-Villarreal
Source: Frontiers in Oncology, Vol 14 (2024)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: colorectal cancer, spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, bioinformatics, genomics, personalized medicine, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Over the past century, colorectal cancer (CRC) has become one of the most devastating cancers impacting the human population. To gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving this solid tumor, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Spatial transcriptomics and proteomics have emerged as a particularly powerful technology for deciphering the complexity of CRC tumors, given that the TME and its spatial organization are critical determinants of disease progression and treatment response. Spatial transcriptomics enables high-resolution mapping of the whole transcriptome. While spatial proteomics maps protein expression and function across tissue sections. Together, they provide a detailed view of the molecular landscape and cellular interactions within the TME. In this review, we delve into recent advances in spatial biology technologies applied to CRC research, highlighting both the methodologies and the challenges associated with their use, such as the substantial tissue heterogeneity characteristic of CRC. We also discuss the limitations of current approaches and the need for novel computational tools to manage and interpret these complex datasets. To conclude, we emphasize the importance of further developing and integrating spatial transcriptomics into CRC precision medicine strategies to enhance therapeutic targeting and improve patient outcomes.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2234-943X
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1513821/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2234-943X
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1513821
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/148f6764cc4145d8b0521fdf2e9f2fd2
Accession Number: edsdoj.148f6764cc4145d8b0521fdf2e9f2fd2
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2234943X
DOI:10.3389/fonc.2024.1513821
Published in:Frontiers in Oncology
Language:English