Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer

Abstract Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) is a powerful tool for investigating paediatric cancers, but individual studies often profile a small number of individuals. It is now the standard practice to upload the scRNA‐seq data to data repositories to support scientific reproducibility. Public...

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Main Authors: Xiaohan Xu, John Saxon, Megan Sioe Fei Soon, Colin YC Lee, Zewen Kelvin Tuong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Clinical & Translational Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.70033
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author Xiaohan Xu
John Saxon
Megan Sioe Fei Soon
Colin YC Lee
Zewen Kelvin Tuong
author_facet Xiaohan Xu
John Saxon
Megan Sioe Fei Soon
Colin YC Lee
Zewen Kelvin Tuong
author_sort Xiaohan Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) is a powerful tool for investigating paediatric cancers, but individual studies often profile a small number of individuals. It is now the standard practice to upload the scRNA‐seq data to data repositories to support scientific reproducibility. Public data deposition is a cost‐effective and sustainability‐conscious solution that allows any researcher to download and analyse existing scRNA‐seq data to develop new ideas. This is incredibly valuable, especially in the context of paediatric cancer research, where access to funding and to patient cohorts may be prohibitive. However, standards for data deposition are absent, leading to significant issues that may slow progress. As a consequence, it is difficult, even impossible, for other researchers to validate findings or utilise these data for tailored analyses. Here, we systematically accessed and reviewed publicly available scRNA‐seq data sets from various paediatric cancer studies, covering over 1.3 million cells across 488 clinical samples. We highlight striking inconsistencies with study design and data availability across several levels, which hinder downstream analyses and data reproducibility. To address these challenges, we propose a recommendations framework to improve data deposition practices that promote more effective use of scRNA‐seq data sets deposited on public repositories and accelerate discoveries in paediatric cancer research and beyond. We urge data standards institutes and repositories, such as NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and European Genome‐Phenome Archive (EGA), to strictly enforce these standardised data practices.
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spelling doaj-art-534bcfb6b3254c6ca69847a6c33952a32025-08-20T02:40:56ZengWileyClinical & Translational Immunology2050-00682025-01-01145n/an/a10.1002/cti2.70033Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancerXiaohan Xu0John Saxon1Megan Sioe Fei Soon2Colin YC Lee3Zewen Kelvin Tuong4Ian Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD AustraliaIan Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD AustraliaIan Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD AustraliaSchool of Clinical Medicine University of Cambridge Cambridge UKIan Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD AustraliaAbstract Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) is a powerful tool for investigating paediatric cancers, but individual studies often profile a small number of individuals. It is now the standard practice to upload the scRNA‐seq data to data repositories to support scientific reproducibility. Public data deposition is a cost‐effective and sustainability‐conscious solution that allows any researcher to download and analyse existing scRNA‐seq data to develop new ideas. This is incredibly valuable, especially in the context of paediatric cancer research, where access to funding and to patient cohorts may be prohibitive. However, standards for data deposition are absent, leading to significant issues that may slow progress. As a consequence, it is difficult, even impossible, for other researchers to validate findings or utilise these data for tailored analyses. Here, we systematically accessed and reviewed publicly available scRNA‐seq data sets from various paediatric cancer studies, covering over 1.3 million cells across 488 clinical samples. We highlight striking inconsistencies with study design and data availability across several levels, which hinder downstream analyses and data reproducibility. To address these challenges, we propose a recommendations framework to improve data deposition practices that promote more effective use of scRNA‐seq data sets deposited on public repositories and accelerate discoveries in paediatric cancer research and beyond. We urge data standards institutes and repositories, such as NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and European Genome‐Phenome Archive (EGA), to strictly enforce these standardised data practices.https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.70033communitypaediatric cancerrepositoryRNA‐sequencing datasingle‐cell
spellingShingle Xiaohan Xu
John Saxon
Megan Sioe Fei Soon
Colin YC Lee
Zewen Kelvin Tuong
Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
Clinical & Translational Immunology
community
paediatric cancer
repository
RNA‐sequencing data
single‐cell
title Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
title_full Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
title_fullStr Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
title_full_unstemmed Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
title_short Data standards for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing of paediatric cancer
title_sort data standards for single cell rna sequencing of paediatric cancer
topic community
paediatric cancer
repository
RNA‐sequencing data
single‐cell
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.70033
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AT megansioefeisoon datastandardsforsinglecellrnasequencingofpaediatriccancer
AT colinyclee datastandardsforsinglecellrnasequencingofpaediatriccancer
AT zewenkelvintuong datastandardsforsinglecellrnasequencingofpaediatriccancer