1171-Mitotrek: Mapping Human Tumor Myeloid Origins

This research introduces Mitotrek, a novel multi-omic method that utilizes mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations to trace the lineage of innate immune cells in human lung and ovarian cancers. By analyzing single-cell data from matched tumors, tissues, and blood, the researchers discovered that tumor-resident myeloid cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, originate from circulating monocytes. These findings reveal that myeloid cells do not expand significantly within the tumor but instead possess epigenetic biases programmed in the blood prior to infiltration. Specifically, certain monocyte clones are inherently predisposed to become either immunosuppressive macrophages or pro-inflammatory dendritic cells (DC3s). This study suggests that the composition of the tumor’s immune environment is largely determined by systemic signaling rather than local cues alone. Ultimately, the research highlights how peripheral programming of the immune system shapes the body's natural response to malignancy.References:Liu V, Sandor K, Yan P .Clonal lineage tracing of innate immune cells in human cancer. Cancer Cell, 2026; 0前往小宇宙评论区与主播互动