Single‐cell transcriptomic landscape reveals distinct tumourigenesis and immune microenvironments in secondary radiation‐exposed rectal cancer.

This article explores the molecular characteristics and immune microenvironments of secondary radiation-exposed rectal cancers (SRCs) compared to primary rectal cancers (PRCs). The study used single-cell transcriptomic sequencing to analyze the cell type-specific profiles of 18 SRCs and identified distinct differences in copy number variation and immune cell composition between SRCs and PRCs. The findings suggest that oncogene amplification and the activation of Treg cells may promote the progression of SRCs, while the emergence of neutrophils and activation of macrophages contribute to the immune microenvironment of SRCs. The study provides valuable insights into the tumorigenesis of SRCs and potential therapeutic strategies. [Extracted from the article]