Laboratory for Breast Cancer Metastasis
Using single-cell technologies to unlock the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving metastasis
Single-cell genomics
We use diverse single-cell genomic and spatial technologies to study cellular heterogeneity and generate new insights into the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tissue homeostasis and metastasis.
Metabolism
Cells use different forms of metabolism depending on their bioenergetic needs and access to nutrients. We study the role of cellular metabolism in metastatic spread and why specific forms of metabolism are beneficial for metastasis.
Immune control
We study how the immune system controls metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS), a particularly deadly form of metastasis. The CNS immune microenvironment is unique and its ability to control metastasis is poorly understood.
HBCA
The goal of this project is to generate a comprehensive reference of cell types and cell states in the adult human breast tissues using single cell and spatial genomic methods. This is part of the greater Human Cell Atlas (HCA) effort and is generously funded by the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
Featured publication
A spatially resolved single-cell genomic atlas of the adult human breast
Kumar, T., Nee, K., Wei, R. et al., Nature, 2023
The adult human breast is comprised of an intricate network of epithelial ducts and lobules that are embedded in connective and adipose tissue1,2,3. Although most previous studies have focused on the breast epithelial system4,5,6, many of the non-epithelial cell types remain understudied. Here we constructed the comprehensive Human Breast Cell Atlas (HBCA) at single-cell and spatial resolution. Our single-cell transcriptomics study profiled 714,331 cells from 126 women, and 117,346 nuclei from 20 women, identifying 12 major cell types and 58 biological cell states. These data reveal abundant perivascular, endothelial and immune cell populations, and highly diverse luminal epithelial cell states. Spatial mapping using four different technologies revealed an unexpectedly rich ecosystem of tissue-resident immune cells, as well as distinct molecular differences between ductal and lobular regions. Collectively, these data provide a reference of the adult normal breast tissue for studying mammary biology and diseases such as breast cancer.
Devon A. Lawson, PhD
