Nat commun: Chinese scientists use new single cell genetic methods to solve potential drug resistance problems

October 23, 2019 / BIOON / -- researchers at the University of Notre Dame used a new technology that can identify the gene map of a single cell to simulate the potential resistance of breast cancer tumors to a drug, and then determined a drug combination to reverse this resistance Photo source: nature communications Siyuan Zhang is an associate professor of the school of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame University He and his team used a new analytical method to publish the discovery in nature communications "This new technology allows us to sequence every cell," said Zhang, whose lab works with the University of Notre Dame's genomics and bioinformatics core facilities team to apply the new technology, called high-throughput single cell analysis, on campus Until recently, the discovery of gene expression patterns in cancer tissue has been carried out using the entire tumor tissue, a process known as batch sequencing Unfortunately, cancer cells are embedded in the matrix of other cells, making it difficult to distinguish the true characteristics of a single cell New single cell analysis technology makes it possible to identify the nature of each cell In this study, the researchers looked at how a particular new drug might play a role in HER2 positive breast cancer The drug, known as CDK4 / 6 inhibitors, works quickly to block a specific type of enzyme But most drugs work well at first, until the tumor eventually changes and becomes resistant to treatment Then, researchers began to study drug-resistant tumors, and began to develop new drugs to overcome drug resistance, but it was too late "When we found a new drug, the tumor had changed," Zhang said "Zhang decided to study the potential for predicting drug resistance While conducting clinical trials of CDK4 / 6, using single cell analysis techniques, his team found a tumor infiltrating immunosuppressive cells that can lead to drug resistance The team then added another FDA approved drug for immunosuppressive cells This combination turned the tide "Our research shows that drug-resistant tumors are treatable and can maintain and control tumor size for a long time," Zhang said Zhang pointed out that considering the effectiveness of the additional drugs, clinicians can even start the combination treatment before the emergence of drug resistance Because the drug has been approved by the FDA, clinicians can choose to try the program now Michael pfrender, director of the core facilities of genomics and bioinformatics and professor of the Department of Biosciences, said single cell analysis could lead to more discoveries "The application of single-cell therapy in human disease and development has far-reaching significance," he said This technology is rapidly becoming an important part of biomedical research toolbox "Reference: Siyuan Zhang et al Single cell profiling guided combinatorial immunity for fast evolving CDK4 / 6 inhibitor resistant HER2 positive burst cancer Nature communications DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11729-1