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Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
Probing the glioma micro-environment: analysis using biopsy in combination with ultra-fast cyclic immunolabeling
Thomas S van Solinge1,2, Juhyun Oh3,4, Erik Abels1,3
1Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
The interaction between gliomas and the immune system is poorly understood and thus hindering development of effective immunotherapies for glioma patients. The immune response is highly variable during tumor development, and affected by therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Currently, analysis of these local changes is difficult due to poor accessibility of the tumor and high-morbidity of sampling. In this study, we developed a model for repeat-biopsy in mice to study these local immunological changes over time. Using fine needle biopsy we were able to safely and repeatedly collect cells from intracranial tumors in mice. Ultra-fast cycling technology (FAST) was used for multi-cycle immunofluorescence of retrieved cells, and provided insights in the changing immune response over time. The combination of these techniques can be utilized to study changes in the immune response in glioma or other intracranial diseases over time, and in response to treatment within the same animal.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel repeat-biopsy model in mice to track changes in the brain tumor microenvironment. This method allows for safe, serial sampling of glioma cells, aiding the development of new immunotherapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Glioma-immune system interactions are poorly understood, impeding effective immunotherapies.
- Tumor-immune responses vary significantly during glioma development and are influenced by treatments.
- Assessing these local immune changes is challenging due to tumor inaccessibility and invasive sampling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reliable mouse model for repeat-biopsy of intracranial tumors.
- To investigate dynamic changes in the glioma immune microenvironment over time.
- To enable longitudinal studies of immune responses within the same animal.
Main Methods:
- Development of a fine needle biopsy technique for safe, repeated intracranial tumor sampling in mice.
- Application of ultra-fast cycling technology (FAST) for multi-cycle immunofluorescence on retrieved cells.
- Longitudinal analysis of cellular changes within the tumor microenvironment.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of safe and repeated fine needle biopsies from murine intracranial gliomas.
- Utilized FAST immunofluorescence to reveal dynamic shifts in the immune cell landscape over time.
- Provided insights into the evolving immune response within the tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- The developed repeat-biopsy model combined with FAST immunofluorescence offers a powerful tool for studying glioma immunology.
- This approach facilitates longitudinal monitoring of immune responses in vivo, crucial for advancing glioma immunotherapies.
- The methodology is adaptable for investigating intracranial diseases and treatment effects in real-time.
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