van der Leij, S. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

Highly resolved tumor architecture via matched spatial and nucleus transcriptomics from a single tissue section

Spatial transcriptomics often relies on reference-based deconvolution to infer cell types in a tissue context; however, public single-cell datasets can miss patient-specific biology. Here we introduce SIMPlex, a method that generates matched spatial and single-nucleus gene-expression profiles from the same 5 um FFPE section. We demonstrate context-matched profiles across mouse brain, breast cancer and prostate cancer tissues, resolving fine-grained cell-states with distinct spatial signatures. By extracting both spatial and nuclear layers, SIMPlex maximises the information recovered from a single tissue section, an advantage for scarce archival and clinical specimens.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Profiling of epithelial functional states and fibroblast phenotypes in hormone therapy-naive localised prostate cancer

Localised prostate cancers (PCa) are heterogeneous and multifocal, with diverse outcomes. Current prognostic methods are epithelium-centric, overlooking the complex cellular landscape within the tumour microenvironment (TME), which remains incompletely characterised. We performed a comprehensive analysis of cancerous and adjacent-benign cores from 24 patients with hormone therapy-naive localised PCa using single-cell RNA-sequencing. By integrating copy number variation and transcriptional signatures, we classified epithelial cells across a malignant spectrum, revealing widespread molecular perturbation. We found an expansion of Club cell phenotypes, suggestive of Luminal dedifferentiation. We also performed a detailed annotation of stromal phenotypes, focusing on fibroblasts, and identified a novel peri-neural fibroblast population. Spatial transcriptomics elucidated the precise anatomical distribution of CAFs within the PCa TME. This study provides a valuable foundation for advancing our understanding of PCa pathobiology and developing a comprehensive cellular model of the disease. Statement of SignificanceOur study leverages single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to provide a comprehensive cellular annotation of hormone therapy-naive localised PCa. We reveal widespread molecular perturbations in epithelial cells and map distinct fibroblast populations to specific anatomical niches. Notably, we identify a novel peri-neural phenotype associated with nerves, which merits further functional characterisation and exploration as a potential therapeutic target.

cancer biology↗