New research published in Nature Genetics shows how neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy affect the tumour microenvironment (TME) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using single-cell spatial transcriptomics. To this end, the researchers developed a computational tool (namely, spatially constrained optimal transport interaction analysis (SCOTIA)) to map ligand–receptor interactions within the tumour and assess changes induced by therapy.

“We hypothesized that treatment-induced remodelling involves significant changes in ligand–receptor interactions, which may be a key to understanding and overcoming therapeutic resistance,” say co-first authors of this study, Carina Shiau and Jingyi Cao.

发表在《自然遗传学》上的新研究显示了新辅助化疗和放疗如何使用单细胞空间转录组学影响胰腺导管腺癌的肿瘤微环境 （TME）。为此，研究人员开发了一种计算工具（即空间受限最佳运输相互作用分析 （SCOTIA））来绘制肿瘤内的配体-受体相互作用并评估治疗诱导的变化。

“我们假设治疗诱导的重塑涉及配体-受体相互作用的显着变化，这可能是理解和克服治疗耐药性的关键，”这项研究的共同第一作者 Carina Shiau 和 Jingyi Cao 说。