Single-cell profiling and spatial transcriptome of primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

Metastasis remains the leading cause of death in breast cancer. However, little is known about the dynamic changes during the dissemination of breast cancer. Here, we generate single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome of primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes in 4 breast cancer patients. We identified a disseminated cancer cell cluster with high levels of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). We also noticed the transition between glycolysis and OXPHOS when dissemination initiates. Furthermore, this distinct cell cluster is distributed along the tumor’s leading edge. single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome of 4 primary tumors and 4 paired metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer