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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Visualization, Quantification, and Mapping of Immune Cell Populations in the Tumor Microenvironment
Published on: March 25, 2020
Recent advancements in tumour microenvironment landscaping for target selection and response prediction in immune
Madhavi Dipak Andhari1, Asier Antoranz1, Frederik De Smet1
1Translational Cell and Tissue Research Unit, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; The Laboratory for Precision Cancer Medicine, Translational Cell and Tissue Research Unit, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Immune checkpoint therapies have significantly advanced cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the high costs and potential adverse effects associated with these therapies highlight the need for better predictive biomarkers to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment. Unfortunately, the existing biomarkers are insufficient to identify such patients. New high-dimensional spatial technologies have emerged as a valuable tool for discovering novel biomarkers by analysing multiple protein markers at a single-cell resolution in tissue samples. These technologies provide a more comprehensive map of tissue composition, cell functionality, and interactions between different cell types in the tumour microenvironment. In this review, we provide an overview of how spatial protein-based multiplexing technologies have fuelled biomarker discovery and advanced the field of immunotherapy. In particular, we will focus on how these technologies contributed to (i) characterise the tumour microenvironment, (ii) understand the role of tumour heterogeneity, (iii) study the interplay of the immune microenvironment and tumour progression, (iv) discover biomarkers for immune checkpoint therapies (v) suggest novel therapeutic strategies.
Insights
High-dimensional spatial technologies are revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy by enabling the discovery of novel biomarkers. These advanced tools improve patient selection for immune checkpoint therapies, enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Immune checkpoint therapies have transformed cancer treatment but require better biomarkers for patient selection due to high costs and side effects.
- Current biomarkers are insufficient for identifying patients likely to respond to these advanced therapies.
Approach:
- Leveraging high-dimensional spatial technologies for single-cell resolution analysis of protein markers in tissue samples.
- Utilizing multiplexing technologies to create comprehensive maps of the tumor microenvironment, including cell composition, function, and intercellular interactions.
Key Points:
- Spatial protein-based multiplexing facilitates biomarker discovery for immunotherapy.
- These technologies aid in characterizing the tumor microenvironment and understanding tumor heterogeneity.
- They are crucial for studying immune microenvironment dynamics and tumor progression.
Conclusions:
- Spatial technologies are essential for discovering predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint therapies.
- This approach enhances our understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
