Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer

Abstract Background Despite substantial progress in discovering novel therapeutic targets and compounds, cancer hyperproliferative cells (CHCs) play a central role in driving tumor progression in gastric cancer (GC). High-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) integrated with spatial tran...

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Main Authors: Shuai Ping, Xiong Jia, Yanan Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06847-y
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author Shuai Ping
Xiong Jia
Yanan Tian
author_facet Shuai Ping
Xiong Jia
Yanan Tian
author_sort Shuai Ping
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite substantial progress in discovering novel therapeutic targets and compounds, cancer hyperproliferative cells (CHCs) play a central role in driving tumor progression in gastric cancer (GC). High-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) integrated with spatial transcriptomics sequencing (ST-seq) elucidating the role of the CHC microenvironment in driving GC progression remains lacking. Methods Through integrated analysis of 40 scRNA-seq samples and 6 ST samples from human gastric tissues spanning tumor progression, we delineate the phenotypic plasticity of tumor epithelium and characterize the transcriptional trajectory from normal gastric cells to CHCs, a process associated with RRM2 overexpression. Finally, we validated the analysis results through cellular and animal experiments. Results Our findings demonstrate that RRM2 knockdown triggers ferroptosis in GC cells by promoting lipid peroxidation and intracellular iron accumulation. We further screen a compound and RRM2 inhibitor, osalmid, which effectively suppresses tumor growth in GC cell xenografts by triggering ferroptosis, thus offering a new therapeutic option for GC. Conclusions This study elucidates the critical role of RRM2 + CHCs in gastric cancer development and progression, providing novel insights for targeted therapies. The discovery of osalmid as a potential therapeutic agent offers a promising new treatment strategy for GC.
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spelling doaj-art-75f7dd2b079748bea27c06e6af3d17bd2025-08-20T03:42:52ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-07-0123111510.1186/s12967-025-06847-yIntegration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancerShuai Ping0Xiong Jia1Yanan Tian2Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, Lihuili Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityAbstract Background Despite substantial progress in discovering novel therapeutic targets and compounds, cancer hyperproliferative cells (CHCs) play a central role in driving tumor progression in gastric cancer (GC). High-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) integrated with spatial transcriptomics sequencing (ST-seq) elucidating the role of the CHC microenvironment in driving GC progression remains lacking. Methods Through integrated analysis of 40 scRNA-seq samples and 6 ST samples from human gastric tissues spanning tumor progression, we delineate the phenotypic plasticity of tumor epithelium and characterize the transcriptional trajectory from normal gastric cells to CHCs, a process associated with RRM2 overexpression. Finally, we validated the analysis results through cellular and animal experiments. Results Our findings demonstrate that RRM2 knockdown triggers ferroptosis in GC cells by promoting lipid peroxidation and intracellular iron accumulation. We further screen a compound and RRM2 inhibitor, osalmid, which effectively suppresses tumor growth in GC cell xenografts by triggering ferroptosis, thus offering a new therapeutic option for GC. Conclusions This study elucidates the critical role of RRM2 + CHCs in gastric cancer development and progression, providing novel insights for targeted therapies. The discovery of osalmid as a potential therapeutic agent offers a promising new treatment strategy for GC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06847-ySingle-cell sequencingSpatial transcriptomicsGastric cancerFerroptosis
spellingShingle Shuai Ping
Xiong Jia
Yanan Tian
Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
Journal of Translational Medicine
Single-cell sequencing
Spatial transcriptomics
Gastric cancer
Ferroptosis
title Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
title_full Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
title_fullStr Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
title_full_unstemmed Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
title_short Integration of scRNA-seq and ST-seq identifies hyperproliferative RRM2+ cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
title_sort integration of scrna seq and st seq identifies hyperproliferative rrm2 cells features and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer
topic Single-cell sequencing
Spatial transcriptomics
Gastric cancer
Ferroptosis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06847-y
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AT xiongjia integrationofscrnaseqandstseqidentifieshyperproliferativerrm2cellsfeaturesandtherapeutictargetsingastriccancer
AT yanantian integrationofscrnaseqandstseqidentifieshyperproliferativerrm2cellsfeaturesandtherapeutictargetsingastriccancer