Integrative single-cell multiomics analyses dissect molecular signatures of intratumoral heterogeneities and differentiation states of human gastric cancer

Human gastric cancer is a highly lethal disease, but the underlying multiomic molecular signatures remain largely unclear. Here, we performed multi-regional sampling, parallel single-cell multiomics sequencing and integrated analyses of human gastric cancer. We identified common transcriptomic alterations of gastric cancer cells, such as aberrant down-regulation of genes associated with normal stomach function and up-regulation of KRT7, PI3, S100A4, etc. Surprisingly, aberrant and prevalent up-regulation of genes highly expressed in normal colorectal epithelial cells were also identified in cancer cells, which may be partially regulated by promoter chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation levels. We revealed the single-cell DNA methylome landscape of gastric cancer, and identified candidate DNA methylation biomarkers, such as hypermethylated promoters of TMEM240 and HAGLROS, and hypomethylated promoters of TRPM2-AS and HRH1. Additionally, the relationships between genetic lineages, DNA methylation and transcriptomic clusters were systematically revealed at single-cell level. We showed that DNA methylation heterogeneities were mainly among different genetic lineages of cancer cells. Moreover, we found that DNA methylation levels of cancer cells with poorer differentiation states tend to be higher than those of cancer cells with better differentiation states in the primary tumor within the same patient, although still lower than in normal gastric epithelial cells. Cancer cells with poorer differentiation states also prevalently down-regulated MUC1 expression and immune-related pathways, and had poor infiltration of CD8(+) T cells. Our study dissected the molecular signatures of intratumoral heterogeneities and differentiation states of human gastric cancer using integrative single-cell multiomics analyses.

Automated summary

By performing multi-regional sampling and single-cell multiomics sequencing, this study investigated the molecular signatures and heterogeneity of human gastric cancer. The study identified common transcriptomic alterations in gastric cancer cells and discovered the abnormal up-regulation of genes highly expressed in normal colorectal epithelial cells. The single-cell DNA methylome landscape of gastric cancer was characterized, and potential DNA methylation biomarkers were identified. Moreover, the study revealed the relationships between genetic lineages, DNA methylation, and transcriptomic clusters at single-cell level, and demonstrated the associations between differentiation states, DNA methylation, and immune-related pathways in gastric cancer cells.