1066-Spatial Pan-Cancer Atlas of lncRNAs

This research introduces SPanC-Lnc, a comprehensive pan-cancer atlas designed to map long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. By analyzing over 219,000 potential lncRNAs across 13 different cancer types, the study identifies nearly 95,000 previously unannotated transcripts. The authors utilize advanced long-read sequencing and various spatial platforms to validate these findings and determine cell-type specificity. Beyond identification, the work explores lncRNA functions through spatial coexpression with known cancer-hallmark genes and regulatory features. This resource provides a user-friendly database to help scientists discover new biological insights and potential therapeutic targets. Ultimately, the study highlights how lncRNAs are strategically positioned within tumor microenvironments to influence disease progression.

References:

• Prakrithi P, Vo T, Xiong Z, et al. Unraveling lncRNA diversity at a single cell resolution and in a spatial context across different cancer types[J]. Nature Methods, 2026: 1-14.