Xiang Jianfeng, Xiang Yanjie, Ge Qintao, Zhou Yunhong, Zhang Hailiang, Xu Wenhao, Zhou Shifang, Chen Liang
Department of Interventional Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Int J Genomics. 2025 Apr 25;2025:3530098. doi: 10.1155/ijog/3530098. eCollection 2025.
Testicular seminomas, a common germ cell tumor, poses clinical challenges due to its molecular heterogeneity and limited biomarkers for precise diagnosis and prognosis. Leveraging multiomics approaches enables the comprehensive dissection of tumor complexity and facilitates the identification of key molecules influencing disease progression and therapeutic response. Single-cell RNA transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) was utilized to explore the cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity of testicular seminomas. High-dimensional weighted gene coexpression network analysis (hdWGCNA) identified gene modules linked to tumor progression. Public datasets were integrated for gene expression and survival analyses, and drug sensitivity patterns were assessed using the GDSC database. scRNA-seq analysis revealed heterogeneous epithelial populations, with Epi1 cells exhibiting SLC5A5 and SPTBN4 as risk factors for advanced progression of seminomas. hdWGCNA identified nine gene modules, with the M6 module significantly enriched in Epi1 cells, implicating pathways such as negative regulation of ERAD and selective mRNA degradation. SPTBN4 was markedly upregulated in seminoma compared to nonseminomatous tumors and normal tissues, and its high expression was associated with poorer clinical outcomes and immunosuppressive microenvironments. Immune pathway analyses highlighted reduced antigen presentation and increased neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in the SPTBN4-high group, suggesting diminished immunotherapeutic efficacy. Conversely, the SPTBN4-high group exhibited increased sensitivity to multiple chemotherapeutic agents, including thapsigargin and sorafenib, indicating its potential as a predictive marker for chemotherapy. In conclusion, this multiomics study identifies SPTBN4 as a central biomarker in testicular seminomas, encompassing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic dimensions. The integration of single-cell transcriptomics, hdWGCNA, and drug sensitivity analyses underscores the molecular complexity of seminomas and highlights the translational potential of SPTBN4 in guiding personalized treatment strategies. These findings provide a foundation for leveraging multiomics approaches to advance the clinical management of testicular seminomas and other heterogeneous malignancies.
睾丸精原细胞瘤是一种常见的生殖细胞肿瘤,由于其分子异质性以及用于精确诊断和预后的生物标志物有限,给临床带来了挑战。利用多组学方法能够全面剖析肿瘤的复杂性,并有助于识别影响疾病进展和治疗反应的关键分子。采用单细胞RNA转录组测序(scRNA-seq)来探索睾丸精原细胞瘤的细胞和转录异质性。高维加权基因共表达网络分析(hdWGCNA)确定了与肿瘤进展相关的基因模块。整合公共数据集进行基因表达和生存分析,并使用GDSC数据库评估药物敏感性模式。scRNA-seq分析揭示了异质性上皮细胞群体,其中Epi1细胞表现出SLC5A5和SPTBN4作为精原细胞瘤进展的危险因素。hdWGCNA确定了九个基因模块,其中M6模块在Epi1细胞中显著富集,涉及内质网相关蛋白降解(ERAD)的负调控和选择性mRNA降解等途径。与非精原细胞瘤肿瘤和正常组织相比,SPTBN4在精原细胞瘤中明显上调,其高表达与较差的临床结果和免疫抑制微环境相关。免疫途径分析突出显示,在SPTBN4高表达组中抗原呈递减少,中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网(NET)形成增加,提示免疫治疗效果降低。相反,SPTBN4高表达组对包括毒胡萝卜素和索拉非尼在内的多种化疗药物表现出更高的敏感性,表明其作为化疗预测标志物的潜力。总之,这项多组学研究确定SPTBN4为睾丸精原细胞瘤的核心生物标志物,涵盖诊断、预后和治疗等方面。单细胞转录组学、hdWGCNA和药物敏感性分析的整合强调了精原细胞瘤的分子复杂性,并突出了SPTBN4在指导个性化治疗策略方面的转化潜力。这些发现为利用多组学方法推进睾丸精原细胞瘤和其他异质性恶性肿瘤的临床管理奠定了基础。