Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Arutha Kulasinghe; Arutha Kulasinghe; Touraj Taheri; Touraj Taheri; Ken O’Byrne; Ken O’Byrne; Ken O’Byrne; Brett G. M. Hughes; Brett G. M. Hughes; Liz Kenny; Liz Kenny; Chamindie Punyadeera; Chamindie Punyadeera

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.607349

Frontiers in Oncology (Jan 2021)

Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Arutha Kulasinghe,
Arutha Kulasinghe,
Touraj Taheri,
Touraj Taheri,
Ken O’Byrne,
Ken O’Byrne,
Ken O’Byrne,
Brett G. M. Hughes,
Brett G. M. Hughes,
Liz Kenny,
Liz Kenny,
Chamindie Punyadeera,
Chamindie Punyadeera

Affiliations

Arutha Kulasinghe: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
Arutha Kulasinghe: Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Touraj Taheri: Department of Pathology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Touraj Taheri: Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
Ken O’Byrne: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
Ken O’Byrne: Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Ken O’Byrne: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
Brett G. M. Hughes: Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
Brett G. M. Hughes: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Liz Kenny: Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
Liz Kenny: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Chamindie Punyadeera: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
Chamindie Punyadeera: Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.607349
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown durable and long-term benefits in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. To identify patient-responders from non-responders, biomarkers are needed which are predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Cues in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been informative in understanding the tumor-immune contexture.MethodsIn this preliminary study, the NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology was used to determine the immune marker and compartment specific measurements in a cohort of HNSCC tumors from patients receiving ICI therapy.ResultsOur data revealed that markers involved with immune cell infiltration (CD8 T-cells) were not predictive of outcome to ICI therapy. Rather, a number of immune cell types and protein markers (CD4, CD68, CD45, CD44, CD66b) were found to correlate with progressive disease. Cross platform comparison with the Opal Vectra (Perkin Elmer) for a number of markers across similar regions of interest demonstrated concordance for pan-cytokeratin, CD8, and PD-L1.ConclusionThis study, to our knowledge, represents the first digital spatial analysis of HNSCC tumors. A larger cohort of HNSCC will be required to orthogonally validate the findings.

Published in Frontiers in Oncology

ISSN: 2234-943X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/

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