Single-cell ATAC and RNA sequencing reveal pre-existing and persistent cells associated with prostate cancer relapse
Sinja Taavitsainen, Nikolai Engedal, Shaolong Cao, Florian Handle, Andrew Erickson, Stefan Preković, Daniel Wetterskog, Teemu Tolonen, Elisa M. Vuorinen, Antti Kiviaho, Reetta Nätkin, Tomi Häkkinen, Wout Devlies, Sallamari Henttinen, Roosa Kaarijärvi, Mari Lahnalampi, Heidi Kaljunen, Karolina Nowakowska, Heimo Syvälä, Merja Bläuer, Paolo Cremaschi, Frank Claessens, Tapio Visakorpi, Teuvo L.J. Tammela, Teemu J. Murtola, K Granberg, Alastair Lamb, Kirsi Ketola, Ian G. Mills, Gerhardt Attard, Wenyi Wang, Matti Nykter, Alfonso Urbanucci
Abstract
Prostate cancer is heterogeneous and patients would benefit from methods that stratify those who are likely to respond to systemic therapy. Here, we employ single-cell assays for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) and RNA sequencing in models of early treatment response and resistance to enzalutamide. In doing so, we identify pre-existing and treatment-persistent cell subpopulations that possess regenerative potential when subjected to treatment. We find distinct chromatin landscapes associated with enzalutamide treatment and resistance that are linked to alternative transcriptional programs. Transcriptional profiles characteristic of persistent cells are able to stratify the treatment response of patients. Ultimately, we show that defining changes in chromatin and gene expression in single-cell populations from pre-clinical models can reveal as yet unrecognized molecular predictors of treatment response. This suggests that the application of single-cell methods with high analytical resolution in pre-clinical models may powerfully inform clinical decision-making.