Spatial transcriptomic methods represent an exciting extension of classical histopathological methods. The direct visualisation of the expression of hundreds of genes in intact tissues adds meaning to morphology, and illuminates molecular programmes in intact tissues. It is an incredibly powerful new tool to reveal disease mechanisms at the cellular level.
In this talk, we will discuss recent applications of the methods to human primary lung adenocarcinoma, both in published literature and from the Le Quesne laboratory. In particular, we will examine how spatial methods are starting to explain the morphological variance seen in the disease, as well as the associated prognostic information. We will discuss the power and the limitations of the method, and consider its future as a discovery and as a diagnostic tool.