{"title":"Multiomics approach towards characterization of tumor cell plasticity and its significance in precision and personalized medicine.","authors":"Mohammad Azhar Aziz","doi":"10.1007/s10555-024-10190-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cellular plasticity refers to the ability of cells to change their identity or behavior, which can be advantageous in some cases (e.g., tissue regeneration) but detrimental in others (e.g., cancer metastasis). With a better understanding of cellular plasticity, the complexity of cancer cells, their heterogeneity, and their role in metastasis is being unraveled. The plasticity of the cells could also prove as a nemesis to their characterization. In this review, we have attempted to highlight the possibilities and benefits of using multiomics approach in characterizing the plastic nature of cancer cells. There is a need to integrate fragmented evidence at different levels of cellular organization (DNA, RNA, protein, metabolite, epigenetics, etc.) to facilitate the characterization of different forms of plasticity and cell types. We have discussed the role of cellular plasticity in generating intra-tumor heterogeneity. Different omics level evidence is being provided to highlight the variety of molecular determinants discovered using different techniques. Attempts have been made to integrate some of this information to provide a quantitative assessment and scoring of the plastic nature of the cells. However, there is a huge gap in our understanding of mechanisms that lead to the observed heterogeneity. Understanding of these mechanism(s) is necessary for finding targets for early detection and effective therapeutic interventions in metastasis. Targeting cellular plasticity is akin to neutralizing a moving target. Along with the advancements in precision and personalized medicine, these efforts may translate into better clinical outcomes for cancer patients, especially in metastatic stages.</p>","PeriodicalId":9489,"journal":{"name":"Cancer and Metastasis Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"1549-1559"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Cancer and Metastasis Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-024-10190-x","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/5/18 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cellular plasticity refers to the ability of cells to change their identity or behavior, which can be advantageous in some cases (e.g., tissue regeneration) but detrimental in others (e.g., cancer metastasis). With a better understanding of cellular plasticity, the complexity of cancer cells, their heterogeneity, and their role in metastasis is being unraveled. The plasticity of the cells could also prove as a nemesis to their characterization. In this review, we have attempted to highlight the possibilities and benefits of using multiomics approach in characterizing the plastic nature of cancer cells. There is a need to integrate fragmented evidence at different levels of cellular organization (DNA, RNA, protein, metabolite, epigenetics, etc.) to facilitate the characterization of different forms of plasticity and cell types. We have discussed the role of cellular plasticity in generating intra-tumor heterogeneity. Different omics level evidence is being provided to highlight the variety of molecular determinants discovered using different techniques. Attempts have been made to integrate some of this information to provide a quantitative assessment and scoring of the plastic nature of the cells. However, there is a huge gap in our understanding of mechanisms that lead to the observed heterogeneity. Understanding of these mechanism(s) is necessary for finding targets for early detection and effective therapeutic interventions in metastasis. Targeting cellular plasticity is akin to neutralizing a moving target. Along with the advancements in precision and personalized medicine, these efforts may translate into better clinical outcomes for cancer patients, especially in metastatic stages.
期刊介绍:
Contemporary biomedical research is on the threshold of an era in which physiological and pathological processes can be analyzed in increasingly precise and mechanistic terms.The transformation of biology from a largely descriptive, phenomenological discipline to one in which the regulatory principles can be understood and manipulated with predictability brings a new dimension to the study of cancer and the search for effective therapeutic modalities for this disease. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews provides a forum for critical review and discussion of these challenging developments.
A major function of the journal is to review some of the more important and interesting recent developments in the biology and treatment of malignant disease, as well as to highlight new and promising directions, be they technological or conceptual. Contributors are encouraged to review their personal work and be speculative.