Spatial Biology Summit

The process of cancer onset and progression is primarily regulated by two factors, the genetic/epigenetic changes in the malignant tumor cells and the alterations of the tumor microenvironment (TME) surrounding them. Tumor development is dynamic, cancer cells and the TME co-evolve with time, leading to spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The complexity of such crosstalk and cellular architectures is also responsible for inter-patient heterogeneity and different responses to therapy. For the advancement of tumor treatment, the need for personalized medicine has emerged, which in turn requires precise molecular profiling at the individual level. Spatially resolved profiles of RNAs and proteins are critical to understanding how each cellular component is affecting tumor growth and responding to different therapies, providing key information for treatment opportunities. By means of new spatial proteomic approaches, a detailed mapping of the TME has been made possible, deciphering complex tissue samples at the single-cell level. 

The COMET™ platform is a microfluidic-based instrument that allows a fully automated sequential immunofluorescence protocol, including staining and imaging of tissue samples. Through its microfluidic technology and gentle incubations, it allows the rapid detection of up to 40 antigens on a single slide, therefore maximizing the information that can be retrieved per sample. COMET™ hyperplex immunofluorescence protocols can be run on multiple tissue types and are compatible with both formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and frozen tissues. 

Here, we show the development of hyperplex immuno-oncology panels with COMET™. Markers were validated on tumor microarrays and positive control tissues like lymphoid organs, on which we demonstrated the possibility of performing a 40-plex staining with COMET™. Further analysis on frozen sections of human tumors showed that selected panels with biomarkers of interest could be run on tissues of choice, displaying COMET™ value in the process of immunophenotyping and for the comprehension of the TME.