Single-cell transcriptomics reveals intratumor heterogeneity and the potential roles of cancer stem cells and myCAFs in colorectal cancer liver metastasis and recurrence

Abstract

Metastasis and recurrence are the primary obstacles to long-term survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to comprehensively delineate the transcriptomic landscape of primary and liver metastatic CRCs, and revealed novel cellular crosstalk between cancer cell subpopulation and myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) at single-cell resolution. We identified a cancer cell subpopulation termed stem/transient amplifying-like (stem/TA-like) cells, which expressed genes associated with stem cell-like characteristics and metastatic potential. MyCAFs in their microenvironment showed the potential to remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM), regulate angiogenesis, and support a pro-metastatic microenvironment through paracrine signaling involving FN1, BGN, and other ECM components. Notably, we found that they may communicate through the ligand-receptor pairs FN1-CD44 and GDF15-TGFBR2, which may be linked to the liver metastatic process. Additionally, our findings suggest that both stem/TA-like cells and myCAFs could be involved in CRC recurrence following chemotherapy. A unique gene signature generated using the gene expression characteristics of stem/TA-like cells and myCAFs (SM signature) can be used to assess recurrence risk in CRC patients. Collectively, these findings highlight the intratumor heterogeneity and the potential roles of cancer stem cells and myCAFs in CRC liver metastasis and recurrence, providing new targets and insights for the prognostic assessment of CRC patients and the improved selection of effective treatment options.

Keywords: Cellular crosstalk; Colorectal cancer; Single-cell RNA sequencing; Stem/TA-like cells; myCAFs.