Single-cell sequencing reveals immune networks and metabolic reprogramming in gynecological malignancies

Abstract

Gynecological malignancies, encompassing ovarian cancer (OC), endometrial cancer (EC), and cervical cancer (CC), represent a group of aggressive neoplasms that pose substantial threats to women’s health worldwide. The complex tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in disease progression and therapeutic resistance. In recent years, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled systematic characterization of the heterogeneity, functional states, and metabolic reprogramming features of tumor-infiltrating immune cells at unprecedented cellular resolution. Although remarkable progress has been achieved in this field, critical challenges persist, including insufficient understanding of the dynamic mechanisms governing immune cell subset transitions and the intricate regulatory networks underlying metabolism-immune crosstalk. This review summarizes recent advances in single-cell technologies applied to gynecological malignancies, focusing on immune cell subset diversity, intercellular communication networks, and the interplay between metabolic reprogramming and immunosuppression. Furthermore, we discuss potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers derived from these findings, aiming to provide a novel theoretical framework and translational strategies for precision immunotherapy.