Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Gastric cancer develops gradually, beginning with normal stomach tissue, progressing through a condition called intestinal metaplasia, and eventually forming tumors. However, we still do not fully understand how different cell types, especially immune cells and epithelial cells, interact during these early stages. These interactions may hold important clues for detecting cancer earlier and identifying individuals at higher risk. In this study, we used a new technology called spatial transcriptomics, which measures gene activity directly within the tissue while preserving the original structure of the stomach. Using the Xenium in situ platform, we analyzed tissue sections from three patients across normal, precancerous, and tumor regions. We identified specific cell neighborhoods, such as immune cells positioned next to aggressive epithelial cells, that appear to change consistently during cancer development. We also compared these findings with protein data generated from the same tissue. The agreement between the two technologies increases confidence that these changing cell neighborhoods represent real biological signals and may serve as early warning markers. By presenting this work, I aim to advance research on cancer prevention and early detection, key priorities for the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research. Understanding how the stomach microenvironment transforms over time may help develop new tools to identify high-risk patients earlier, improve screening strategies, and ultimately reduce the burden of gastric cancer.