BSMU scientists for the first time in Russia carried out sequencing of single cells in prostate cancer

Scientists of the Bashkir State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia were the first in the country to prepare and sequenced libraries of single cells for prostate cancer. Previously, studies in Russia were carried out on samples of tumor tissue of the lung, breast, with sarcomas and other types of malignant neoplasms.

A single cell library is a collection of nucleic acid fragments isolated from a single cell. DNA fragments are marked with a unique barcode (specific adapter), which later allows you to determine which fragment belongs to a particular cell. Sequencing requires libraries with fragments of a certain length that will be "read" by the sequencer. This is followed by a bioinformatic processing stage, after which scientists receive a huge array of sequencing data and can decipher the molecular "portrait" of each cell separately.

Single cell sequencing technology consists of four main steps:

· isolation of single cells from the cell population;

· isolating RNA from each isolated cell and converting it into coding DNA;

· preparing the library for sequencing using isolated material;

· single cell transcriptome sequencing.

Each cell in a tissue or organ may affect pathology development differently or respond to therapy. Single cell sequencing helps assess their individual contribution to a particular process. This level of detail is especially valuable when studying rare cell types or different variations in populations of the same cell type. Thus, the method is used to study the origin and development of resistance to chemotherapy of tumor cells or, for example, to study unknown gene functions. Single cell sequencing allows you to study the characteristics of a particular cell with its specific features. This approach is used to evaluate the expression of specific genes in specific cells.

Work on the project was carried out in the immunology laboratory of the Institute of Oncology and Clinical Urology of the BSMU Clinic under the patronage of the head of scientific support for Skygen Timur Yagudin. The study was performed using the unique Chromium Fixed RNA Profiling technology on the Genomix 10Kh platform, which opens up new possibilities for studying the complex interactions of the immune response and the tumor microenvironment.

The results of single cell sequencing will allow scientists to:

· identify new therapeutic targets (more effective drug exposure) and biomarkers that will help predict the course of the disease;

· investigate the mechanisms of tumor development, progression, and metastasis;

· deepen the understanding of the role of the immune system in the fight against cancer.

The findings could inform the development of personalized treatments for prostate cancer and make a meaningful contribution to the fight against cancer.

Successfully implement breakthrough scientific research of the BSMU of the Ministry of Health of Russia allows its own clinical base - BSMU Clinic, modern scientific laboratories created thanks to the participation of the university in the federal university support program «Priority-2030»