Single cell RNA-seq reveals malignant and stromal programs associated with invasion and metastasis in head and neck cancer

This study of head and neck cancer aimed to profile individual malignant, stromal, and immune cells in treatment-naive oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, with or without matched metastatic cervical lymph nodes. Clinical and pathologic information was collected on all patients, in addition to a fresh biopsy sample from the primary tumor and/or metastatic lymph node at the time of initial surgery. Biopsy specimens were processed for single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and/or whole exome sequencing (WES). A total of ~6,000 single cells from 18 participants were included in the final dataset. Stromal and immune cells had consistent expression programs across patients. Conversely, malignant cells varied within and between tumors in their expression of signatures related to cell cycle, stress,... (for more see dbGaP study page.)