Cited by 2,598Cancer Genomics and DiagnosticsSingle-cell and spatial transcriptomicsCancer Cells and Metastasis

Tumour evolution inferred by single-cell sequencing

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Navin, Nicholas, Kendall, Jude, Troge, Jennifer, Andrews, Peter, Rodgers, Linda, McIndoo, Jeanne, Cook, Kerry, Stepansky, Asya +7 more·2011·Nature

Abstract

Genomic analysis provides insights into the role of copy number variation in disease, but most methods are not designed to resolve mixed populations of cells. In tumours, where genetic heterogeneity is common, very important information may be lost that would be useful for reconstructing evolutionary history. Here we show that with flow-sorted nuclei, whole genome amplification and next generation sequencing we can accurately quantify genomic copy number within an individual nucleus. We apply single-nucleus sequencing to investigate tumour population structure and evolution in two human breast cancer cases. Analysis of 100 single cells from a polygenomic tumour revealed three distinct clonal subpopulations that probably represent sequential clonal expansions. Additional analysis of 100 single cells from a monogenomic primary tumour and its liver metastasis indicated that a single clonal expansion formed the primary tumour and seeded the metastasis. In both primary tumours, we also identified an unexpectedly abundant subpopulation of genetically diverse 'pseudodiploid' cells that do not travel to the metastatic site. In contrast to gradual models of tumour progression, our data indicate that tumours grow by punctuated clonal expansions with few persistent intermediates.

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  • Rapid technological advances have enabled genome-wide profiling of RNA, DNA, protein, epigenetic modifications, chromatin accessibility, and other molecular events in single cells.

    “rapid technological advances have enabled genome-wide profiling of RNA7–10, DNA11–17, protein18–21, epigenetic modifications22–26, chromatin accessibility27,28, and other molecular events29 in single cells.”
  • Multiple-omic protocols will not only allow results to be corroborated by distinct data types but also elucidate how information flows in biological circuits from DNA to RNA to protein.

    “Multiple-omic protocols will not only allow results to be corroborated by distinct data types (e.g., CNV calling from DNA-seq11 and scRNA-seq data97) but also elucidate how information flows in biological circuits from DNA to RNA to protein.”
  • Important strides have been made in single-cell DNA sequencing as well as in analysis of copy-number variations (CNVs) and point mutations from single-cell DNA data.

    “While our focus has been on single-cell transcriptomics, important strides have also been made in single-cell DNA sequencing77,194 as well as in analysis of copy-number variations (CNVs)11 and point mutations15,195 from single-cell DNA data.”
  • These methods have been used to decipher pathological evolution in tumors and somatic mosaicism in healthy tissues and in non-cancerous disease.

    “These methods have been used to decipher pathological evolution in tumors11,15,195–197 and somatic mosaicism198 in healthy tissues and in non-cancerous disease199–203.”
  • Single-cell sequencing is becoming common as a research platform but is not yet suitable for clinical use.

    “More sensitive approaches of genetic characterization, like single-cell sequencing, are becoming increasingly common as research platforms but are not yet amenable to a clinical setting6, 7.”

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Authors
Navin, N., Kendall, J., Troge, J., Andrews, P., Rodgers, L., McIndoo, J., Cook, K., Stepansky, A., Levy, D., Esposito, D., Muthuswamy, L., Krasnitz, A., McCombie, W. R., Hicks, J., & Wigler, M.
Affiliations
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (US)
  • Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (CA)
Corresponding author
Wigler, Michael
Venue
Nature
Published
2011-03-13
Volume
472
Issue
7341
Pages
90-94
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2032518018
Cited by
2,598
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 74 · 2025: 113 · 2024: 125 · 2023: 140 · 2022: 185 · 2021: 190 · 2020: 159 · 2019: 144 · 2018: 171 · 2017: 191 · 2016: 208 · 2015: 223 · 2014: 232 · 2013: 214 · 2012: 167
FWCI
73.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Institutional Repository (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • American Cancer Society
  • National Cancer Institute (T32CA009176)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Keywords
tumor evolution, tumor heterogeneity, breast cancer, clonal expansion, single-nucleus sequencing, copy number variation, liver metastasis, whole genome amplification
MeSH terms
Breast Neoplasms, Clone Cells, Diploidy, Female, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Genome, Human, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast, Disease Progression, Genetic Heterogeneity, Evolution, Molecular, Loss of Heterozygosity, Genomics, Chromosome Breakpoints, Single-Cell Analysis

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