Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42450609›Full record

ReviewBiology2026

Spatial Transcriptomics in Breast Cancer: Advances and Applications.

Yanni Cao, Kangcheng Xu, Xiaohui Li, Junyuan Zhang, Wen Jin, Yuxian Liu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yanni CaoSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1508-4131
Kangcheng XuSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.
Xiaohui LiSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.
Junyuan ZhangSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.
Wen JinClinical Medical Research Center, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, Hohhot 010010, China.
Yuxian LiuSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Huainan 232001, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1458-9648

Funding

Anhui Provincial Department of Education 2023AH051200Anhui Provincial Department of Education 2023AH051201National Natural Science Foundation of China 62501014National Natural Science Foundation of China 62502005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesWhile traditional transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing can reveal differences in cell type and gene expression, they cannot provide spatial information within tissues. Spatial transcriptomics (ST), as an emerging technology in recent years, has achieved significant progress in resolving gene expression along the spatial dimension. This technology quantifies gene expression at defined spatial coordinates and describes the spatial distribution of transcripts and the co-localization patterns between cells within intact tissue, allowing for an integrated analysis of molecular and spatial information. This review aims to systematically trace the development of ST and highlight its application value in breast cancer research.

methodsWe systematically reviewed the recent literature on ST platforms, on combined analyses of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and ST, and on integrated spatial multi-omics in breast cancer. Key topics include tumor microenvironment organization, intra-tumor heterogeneity, the spatial distribution of immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblast function, treatment-response prediction, and personalized-treatment strategy development.

resultsST can characterize the spatial organization of interactions between breast cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, describe the spatial dimensions of tumor heterogeneity, and provide multi-dimensional information that may support refined subtype classification and prognostic assessment. Existing studies indicate that ST shows significant potential to inform personalized treatment strategies, but the technology also faces bottlenecks in data integration, spatial resolution, standardization, and the need for functional validation.

conclusionsST provides an important tool for an in-depth description of the complex spatial organization within breast cancer tumors. When integrated with functional perturbation, longitudinal cohorts, and orthogonal omics, it has the potential to ultimately improve clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Indexed as

breast cancerprecision medicinespatial transcriptomicstumor heterogeneitytumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42450609
PMCPMC13360301

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.