About this Research Topic

Background

Spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing have emerged as powerful tools in cancer research, enabling comprehensive analysis of gene expression patterns, pathways, and therapeutic targets. By integrating cell population information and spatial location data, these methods offer a deeper understanding of the molecular landscape of tumors. In the pursuit of precise and personalized cancer treatment, the integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing represents a promising direction. This integrated approach can help identify novel therapeutic targets and guide the development of more effective immunotherapy strategies.

Digestive tract tumors encompass a wide range of malignancies occurring in the colon, rectum, stomach, pancreas, and liver. Colorectal cancer (CRC), in particular, ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, many patients still face challenges of distant metastasis and treatment resistance. There is an urgent need for innovative research strategies to deepen our understanding of gastrointestinal tumor pathogenesis, especially considering the inherent heterogeneity of these tumors. The continuous progress in sequencing technology opens new avenues for utilizing the integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing to enhance our knowledge of digestive tract tumors. This comprehensive approach holds great promise in identifying novel target therapies and advancing immunotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors.

The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge research articles, reviews, and viewpoints that focus on the application of integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. We invite contributions from researchers working in the following areas:

Topics of Interest:

• Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in integrating spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing data.
• Impact of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing in the identification of potential small molecules and biological agents for gastrointestinal tumors.
• Integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal tumor heterogeneity.
• Identification of molecular subtypes of digestive tract tumors through integrated spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing.
• Challenges and solutions related to computational analysis of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing data integration.
• Evaluation of the efficacy of personalized immunotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors using integrated spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing.

Submission Guidelines:

We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and opinion pieces related to the aforementioned topics. All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review, and selected articles will be published on the Research Topic. Please adhere to the standard Frontiers submission guidelines for manuscript preparation and submission.

Keywords: Spatial transcriptomics, single-cell rna sequencing, digestive tract tumors, pathogenesis, therapeutic targets, heterogeneity, integrated analysis, immunotherapy strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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