Implications of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Cervical Cancer: Unravelling the Molecular Landscape

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies that affects women worldwide. It is strongly influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors, most notably persistent HPV infection and smoking. A defining feature of CC is its high degree of heterogeneity, which poses significant challenges for conventional sequencing and diagnostic approaches in fully capturing its oncogenetic landscape. The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has transformed this field, offering an unprecedented ability to dissect the tumor microenvironment at a single-cell resolution. By mapping cell–cell communication networks and characterizing gene expression across diverse cellular populations, scRNA-seq enables the identification of biomarkers with strong diagnostic and prognostic potential. Beyond biomarker discovery, this technology also facilitates the recognition of novel therapeutic targets, paving the way for more precise and effective treatment strategies. This review summarizes the applications of scRNA-seq in cervical cancer research, with a focus on methodological advances, key findings from recent studies, and their implications for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic interventions.