New 3D tumor maps help develop specific cancer treatments

• The Human Tumor Atlas Network publishes 3D maps of breast, colon, and pancreatic tumors.
• The study, based on biopsies from 2,000 patients, reveals the ‘tumor microenvironment’.
• These maps allow us to identify areas with different mutations and the potential to personalize treatments.

Main: Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) has released the first 3D maps of several tumors. National Institutes of Health United States.

Atlas published in Natureanalyzes biopsies from 2,000 patients and offers detailed insights into cancer development and the environment. This innovative technology allows detection of areas with different genetic mutations and cellular activity, which can help in personalized treatment for increased effectiveness immunotherapy and other oncological treatments. This approach promises to redefine how tumors are treated by identifying which areas respond best to specific treatments.

Why is this important: A 3D tumor atlas could revolutionize cancer treatment and accelerate the development of personalized treatments.

• Helps personalize therapy by optimizing immunotherapy in areas of high immune activity.
• Facilitates drug resistance analysis by monitoring cellular response.
• Provides a strong foundation for the development of precision medicine in oncology.

Recent publication of the first three-dimensional (3D) maps of tumors of various types Canceramong them mother, colon And pancreas, is an important milestone in cancer research.

This initiative, developed Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) and is funded by US National Institutes of Health, represents an advance that could transform cancer treatments by providing precise and detailed information about the development and evolution of these tumors over time and space.

Creation of a three-dimensional map of tumors, the results of which are collected in 12 scientific articles published in the journal. Naturefocused on analysis biopsy samples from 2000 patients. This process provides not only a complete picture of the tumor cells, but also the microenvironment that surrounds them. including blood vessels and immune cellsas well as structural cells interacting with the tumor. These maps allow researchers visualize the exact location of each cell type and understand how their functions influence cancer progression.

One of the key points is the role of the “tumor microenvironment.” This concept, although known for a decade, has never been described with the precision that 3D plans allow today.

According to Li Dingresearcher from Washington State University: ” Three-dimensional visibility allows us to observe not only how each cell in the tumor microenvironment acts, but also how its behavior changes. in response to treatment or when the tumor spreads to other organs and metastasizes.”

This type of knowledge promises to directly impact treatment personalization. The ability to identify, for example, areas of a tumor with higher immune cell activity (“hot areas”) suggests that these areas may respond better to immunotherapy, while “cold areas” with low immune activity may require specialized approaches. alternatives.

The problem of tumor heterogeneity The opportunity to construct such a detailed atlas brought with it a fundamental observation: cancer heterogeneity. In contrast to the previous idea that tumors are homogeneous massesThe 3D maps confirmed that each tumor was a highly complex structure, with regions that contained different genetic mutations.. This means that the same tumor may require different treatments in each of its areas, given the diversity of its cellular characteristics.

A case in point is the case colorectal cancerwhich found that different cellular mutations work together to form a tumor, which is a much more dynamic process than the growth of a single mutated clone, as was believed. This could have huge implications for personalized medicine, where the ideal treatment would require identifying and targeting different mutations coexisting in the same tumor.

Technology that redefines personalized treatment Director of Biotechnology of the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Fernando Pelaezcompared the discovery to “when the human genome was sequenced,” highlighting its potential impact on clinical practice.

With the ability to 3D map a tumor from a biopsy sample, physicians can gain insight into the structure and composition of an individual tumor, thereby tailoring treatment in a specific and targeted manner for each patient.

In case breast cancernew maps show that Each type of breast tumor arises from specific types of cells. which suggests that knowledge of the cellular origin of a tumor may be key to selecting the most effective treatment.

In addition to personalizing therapy, these 3D cancer maps will allow us to analyze how tumors develop and respond to treatment, which is especially useful in cases of drug resistance.

He single cell analysis This makes it possible to observe how each cell behaves under treatment, generating data that can be used to predict disease progression and adjust therapy accordingly.

He The HTAN project started in 2018 as part of the initiative Cancer Moonshotand has since made great strides in creating these three-dimensional atlases. This work involves an interdisciplinary team of researchers using advanced and sophisticated technologies cellular analysis platforms to obtain data from every cell involved in a tumor and its surrounding microenvironment.

Through this innovative approach, researchers have already determined that cancer cells tend to concentrate in the tumor core, while immune cells are located at the periphery, providing important information about how and where the body’s defenses operate and how they are used by cancer. .

This arrangement of cells, visible only in these new 3D maps, has allowed us to better understand why certain areas of the tumor are more resistant to immunotherapy.

Although these results are not yet available for immediate clinical use, 3D atlas studies provide the basis for a new era in personalized medicine. The introduction of these maps into medical practice could in the future allow doctors to quickly assess the structure and behavior of a specific tumor, thereby determining the best treatment options for each patient.

As Pelaez points out: “Every cancer is different, and knowing it in the level of detail that 3D technology can offer will allow you to make better decisions for the patient in the future. through treatments tailored to each tumor.” This represents a radical change from general approaches to cancer treatment, as it offers a system in which treatments are much more specific and tailored to the characteristics of each case.

The HTAN project also asks us to think about the challenges associated with tumor heterogeneity and the interactions between different cell types within a tumor. Identifying “hot” and “cold areas” in the same tumor is just one of the points. this should be taken into account to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Moreover, the possibility that different cell types with different mutations are active in the same tumor raises questions about how to develop treatments that take into account this diversity without compromising other vital functions of the body.

These advances are promising, but there is still a long way to go to fully understand cancer and effectively treat it. According to Xiaoshun Helead author of one recent study, “We know that the liver plays a fundamental role in brain repair. after cardiac arrest, but understanding the limits of your intervention is the next big challenge.”

In conclusion, 3D cancer atlases represent one of the most important advances in modern oncology. By combining cutting-edge technology with a detailed understanding of cancer behavior and its microenvironment, researchers are creating a platform that promises to redefine the way we fight this disease and bring us one step closer to a future in which treatments are as targeted and effective. as each patient needs.