Decoding Cancer with scRNA-seq

Resolving early tumor-initiating events at single cell resolution

Tumorigenesis starts with the acquisition of a mutation within a single cell.

It is a gradual, multifactorial process driven by genetic, epigenetic, and chromosomal changes that over time disrupt the transcriptional and regulatory mechanisms, granting the cell a selective growth advantage to persist and expand. These accumulations gradually drive the transition from homeostasis to malignancy.

While different models try to explain the complexities identified (14) in the dynamics of cancer cells, what gives a cell its tumorigenic identity is a sequence of disruptions to key biological systems, particularly those regulating cell growth, division, differentiation, and apoptosis.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has transformed cancer research by enabling individual cell resolution of transcriptional states, lineage relationships, and pathway activities. It provides a unique lens into how cancers originate, evolve, and resist treatment—unlocking questions that bulk approaches cannot resolve. Below, we outline key research applications of scRNA-seq in tumor biology.