Single-cell RNA sequencing highlights the unique tumor microenvironment of small cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma.

Small cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor characterized by early metastasis, a high recurrence rate, and poor prognosis. This study represents the first instance of single-cell sequencing conducted on small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix worldwide. Analysis of gene expression regulatory networks revealed that the transcription factor TFF3 drived up-regulation of ELF3. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the neuroendocrine marker genes and gene regulatory networks associated with small cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma differed from those observed in lung, small intestine, and liver neuroendocrine carcinoma within the GEO database, suggesting tissue-specific origins for these malignancies. Overall, this study addresses a significant research in understanding small cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma in vivo and provides valuable insights for guiding radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.