Developing advanced algorithms to decipher the role of RNA localization in tumor biology

Cancer progression involves complex cellular changes, such as migration and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, driven by RNA localization patterns within cells. Current technologies struggle to efficiently capture these patterns in large tissue samples.

Understanding RNA distribution in tumor cells is essential for advancing cancer research and treatment.This project aims to develop a novel approach using image-based spatial transcriptomics to analyze RNA localization at the subcellular level across diverse cell types.

The study will create a computational workflow to explore RNA distribution within and outside cells, providing insights into cellular diversity and communication in tumors.

The workflow will track RNA changes from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and investigate extracellular RNA´s role in cell-to-cell signaling.

Applied to a pan-cancer dataset, this methodology will produce the first high-throughput atlas of RNA localization in various cancer types.

By enhancing spatial transcriptomics, the study addresses limitations in current methods and offers deeper insights into tumor biology, potentially leading to more targeted therapies.

The tools developed will advance cancer research  by revealing the role RNA localization in cellular behavior, contributing to better understanding tumoral heterogeneity.