An invasive zone in human liver cancer identified by Stereo-seq promotes hepatocyte–tumor cell crosstalk, local immunosuppression and tumor progression

Abstract Dissecting and understanding the cancer ecosystem, especially that around the tumor margins, which have strong implications for tumor cell infiltration and invasion, are essential for exploring the mechanisms of tumor metastasis and developing effective new treatments. Using a novel tumor border scanning and digitization model enabled by nanoscale resolution-SpaTial Enhanced REsolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), we identified a 500 µm-wide zone centered around the tumor border in patients with liver cancer, referred to as “the invasive zone”. We detected strong immunosuppression, metabolic reprogramming, and severely damaged hepatocytes in this zone. We also identified a subpopulation of damaged…

• SM
  Shanghai Municipal Health Commission

  Awards: 201940075, 2022LJ005, 2019CXJQ02
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 82150004, 81872355, 81772578, 82072715, 81830102, 81802991, 2019CXJQ02, 81772551, 2021YFC2501900, 2019YFC1315802, 2019YFC1315800, 82341027
• SA
  Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality

  Award: 21140900300
• TU
  Tsinghua University
• SJ
  Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• RH
  Renji Hospital
• SO
  School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province