Extracellular Matrix Imaging of Breast Tissue Pathologies by MALDI-Imaging Mass Spectrometry

A new method accessing proteins from extracellular matrix by imaging mass spectrometry (ECM IMS) has been recently reported. ECM IMS is evaluated for use in exploring breast tissue pathologies.

A tissue microarray (TMA) is analyzed that has 176 cores of biopsies and lumpectomies spanning breast pathologies of inflammation, hyperplasia, fibroadenoma, invasive ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma and normal adjacent to tumor (NAT). NAT is compared to subtypes by area under the receiver operating curve (ROC) >0.7. A lumpectomy is also characterized for collagen organization by microscopy and stromal protein distribution by IMS. LC-based high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) proteomics is used to identify proteins from the lumpectomy.

TMA analysis shows distinct spectral signatures reflecting a heterogeneous tissue microenvironment. Ninety-four peaks show an ROC > 0.7 compared to NAT; NAT has overall higher intensities. Lumpectomy analysis by IMS visualizes a complex central tumor region with distal tumor regions. A total of 39 stromal proteins are identified by HRAM LC-based proteomics. Accurate mass matches between image data and LC-based proteomics demonstrate a heterogeneous collagen type environment in the central tumor.

Data portray the heterogeneous stromal microenvironment of breast pathologies, including alteration of multiple collagen-type patterns. ECM IMS is a promising new tool for investigating the stromal microenvironment of breast tissue including cancer.