iScience. 2025 May 15;28(6):112681. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112681. eCollection 2025 Jun 20.

ABSTRACT

Metabolic reprogramming is a defining feature of pancreatic cancer, influencing tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment. By integrating single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, and spatial metabolomics, this study visualized the spatial co-localization of metabolites and gene expression within tumor samples, uncovering metabolic heterogeneity and intercellular interactions. Spatial transcriptomics identified distinct pathological regions, which were further characterized using single-cell transcriptomic data and pathologist annotations. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed metabolic shifts along the malignant progression, while single-cell Metabolism (scMetabolism) delineated metabolic differences between pathological regions, classifying them as hypermetabolic or hypometabolic. Notably, aberrant cell communication between cancer cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts was observed, with key receptor-ligand pairs significantly co-expressed in malignant regions and correlated with poor prognosis. Spatial metabolomics imaging identified signature metabolites, highlighting metabolic alterations in amino acid metabolism, polyamine metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, and phospholipid metabolism. This integrated analysis provides critical insights into pancreatic cancer metabolism, offering potential avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

PMID:40538442 | PMC:PMC12177182 | DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112681

Cancer Treat Rev. 2025 Jun 14;139:102979. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2025.102979. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is characterized by significant molecular heterogeneity; therefore, there are distinct clinical features, treatment modalities, and prognostic outcomes across its various molecular subtypes. In the era of precision medicine, liquid biopsy has emerged as a convenient and minimally invasive technique capable of dynamically representing the comprehensive tumor gene spectrum. This review systematically elaborates the clinical value of liquid biopsy as a breakthrough tool for precision diagnosis and treatment in breast cancer through dynamic detection of key biomarkers, including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Specific genetic mutations and methylation signatures in ctDNA can be applied to early breast cancer screening, minimal residual disease monitoring, and tracking drug resistance mechanisms. CTCs enumeration (≥1/7.5 mL in early-stage cancer or ≥ 5/7.5 mL in metastatic cancer) and PD-L1 expression levels demonstrate direct correlations with prognostic stratification and the efficacy of immunotherapy. As the specificity and sensitivity of liquid biopsy continue to improve, personalized treatment strategies, informed by biomarker analysis and targeted precision therapies, have unveiled new avenues of hope for patients with breast cancer. However, several challenges persist in the practical application of liquid biopsy. Despite persistent challenges, such as insufficient standardization and difficulties in resolving low-abundance variants, future advancements should focus on multi-omics integration and AI-driven technological breakthroughs to overcome bottlenecks in clinical translation. This review summarizes cutting-edge liquid biopsy technologies for identifying clinically significant molecular biomarkers, focusing on discussing critical challenges in the strategies to advance precision oncology applications for optimized treatment guidance and disease surveillance in breast cancer.

PMID:40540857 | DOI:10.1016/j.ctrv.2025.102979