Single-cell RNA sequencing via endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy for pancreatic tumors uncovered an aggressive subclone with a poor prognosis

Abstract

Background

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool which can unveil regulatory connections between genes and cells. However, due to the high demand for tissue quality, most scRNA-seq for pancreatic cancer is carried out by surgical specimen. This study (NCT05767697) aims to gain practical experience in carrying out scRNA-seq using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB).

Materials and methods

With a within-subjects design, two punctures from the same lesion, with a negative pressure of 5 ml (suction group) and without applying suction (non-suction group), were evaluated. Each biopsy sample was separated into three parts: white tissue, red material, and buffer for living cell counting. scRNA-seq was carried out according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The pancreatic adenocarcinoma dataset in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used as external validation.

Results

A total of 20 patients with 40 specimens were enrolled. The suction group achieved a success rate of 80% (16/20), which was significantly higher than the 10% (2/20) success rate in the non-suction group (P < 0.001). scRNA-seq data were generated for four patients, including two early stage and two late stage. Overall, 15 major cell subtypes, including 4 cancer subclones, were identified across early and late stages. Analysis of differentially expressed genes identified an aggressive subclone highlighted by ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 C (UBE2C) high expression, commonly in late stage. The TCGA dataset also demonstrated that UBE2C high-expression pancreatic cancer had a poor prognosis.

Conclusions

EUS-FNB with a negative pressure of 5 ml is feasible for scRNA-seq in clinical practice. A UBE2C high-expression subclone correlates with a poor prognosis, potentially becoming a new therapeutic target in future studies.