1,720,968 research outputs found
The local immunological microenvironment in colorectal cancer as a prognostic factor for treatment decisions in the clinic: The way ahead
No full textAnalysis of the local immunological microenvironment in colorectal cancer lesions yielded prognostic markers. Harnessing these insights for clinical application however requires the use of sophisticated technology and algorithms, especially the robust and reproducible quantification of immune cells. These technologies are available and will allow individualized treatment decisions beyond the current standard
Sequence mutations of the substrate binding pocket of stem cell factor and multidrug resistance protein ABCG2 in renal cell cancer: a possible link to treatment resistance
No full textABCG2 is a multidrug cellular transport protein that is associated with resistance to certain treatments in patients, particularly anticancer treatment. The tumor-protective properties of ABCG2 expression are reported to be a feature of a subset of stem cell-like tumor cells. While protection against chemotherapy has been well analyzed, the role of ABCG2 in the treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is only partially understood. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently the main treatment option in irresectable renal cell carcinomas. To investigate possible underlying sequence variations in the ABCG2 gene with relevance to the functional properties of the protein, 36 patient samples were analyzed. Using sequence analysis and single-nucleotide polymorphism databases, sequence variations in the highly conserved domains of the binding pocket of ABCG2 were analyzed. The resulting variations were used for computational protein prediction algorithms to identify conformational alterations. A relevant shift from A to G at position 1376 (resulting in Y→C at 459 aa) was identified and found to be present in 8.3% of the patients. These patients are currently in follow-up after resection, thus, further analysis will reveal whether this mutation has relevance to treatment efficacy
Estimation of immune cell densities in immune cell conglomerates: an approach for high-throughput quantification.
No full textBackgroundDetermining the correct number of positive immune cells in immunohistological sections of colorectal cancer and other tumor entities is emerging as an important clinical predictor and therapy selector for an individual patient. This task is usually obstructed by cell conglomerates of various sizes. We here show that at least in colorectal cancer the inclusion of immune cell conglomerates is indispensable for estimating reliable patient cell counts. Integrating virtual microscopy and image processing principally allows the high-throughput evaluation of complete tissue slides.Methodology/principal findingsFor such large-scale systems we demonstrate a robust quantitative image processing algorithm for the reproducible quantification of cell conglomerates on CD3 positive T cells in colorectal cancer. While isolated cells (28 to 80 microm(2)) are counted directly, the number of cells contained in a conglomerate is estimated by dividing the area of the conglomerate in thin tissues sections (ConclusionIn summary, we recommend our approach as an objective and robust strategy for quantifying immune cell densities in immunohistological sections which can be directly implemented into automated full slide image processing systems
Abstract 1917: Immunological Tumor Maps: a Landscape of Infiltrating Immune Cells in Colorectal Cancer Based on Complete Tissue Section Analyses
No full textAbstract
In colorectal cancer (CRC) large scale tissue microarray (TMA) based quantitative immune cell counts using immune cell surface molecules (CD3, CD8, Granzyme B, and CD45RO) have identified the number of infiltrating immune cells to be potentially better predictors for patient survival than the classical TNM system. The spatial heterogeneity of immune cells may not be well reflected in the highly selected, and typically small (0,6-1 mm2) tissue cores of the TMA. This represents an obstacle in the individual prognosis prediction or classification of a single patient. To investigate this aspect, the localization and distribution of immune cell subpopulations based on the analysis of complete tissue sections by a dedicated novel staining and imaging system were performed. Using a specialized staining platform and whole slide imaging & analysis by virtual microscopy (VM), immunological “tumor maps” were generated. These tumor maps are based on cell densities in fields of 1mm2 size, visualizing intratumoral heterogeneity for the surface markers CD3, CD8, Granzyme B, and CD45RO. In total, an area of 867 mm2 was automatically evaluated with an average of 48 mm2 of evaluated tumor tissue per patient slide. Cell counts varied within a patient significantly, ranging from 0 to up to 2550 cells / mm2. Further analyses revealed, that sampling of single field counts within the tumor can only yield clear diagnostic decisions for a fraction of the analyzed patients, with ambiguous decisions for 11 out of 20 patients. Interestingly, the overall degree of heterogeneity also varied between patients, with lower heterogeneity found only in samples with lower cell counts. No samples with a homogeneous high cell density distribution were observed. The observed variability has implications for the individual prognosis prediction and represents the first spatial quantitative study of immune cells in a set of CRC primary tumors. The presented tumor maps therefore are a suitable tool to visualize heterogeneity. Furthermore, whole slide imaging & analysis by VM is essential in the identification of prognostic markers as well as in their subsequent application. In the future, spatial marker signatures could contribute to individual patient classification.
Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1917.</jats:p
Sequential metastases of colorectal cancer: Immunophenotypes and spatial distributions of infiltrating immune cells in relation to time and treatments
No full textThe role of the immune system in the course of colorectal cancer has been elucidated in the last decade. While quantification of immune cell infiltrates within the resected specimen at diagnosis has a clear power to estimate the prognosis of the patient, the role of infiltrating immune cells within the metastatic situation and especially within the metastatic lesion itself requires further detailed analyses. Recent analyses of infiltrates in colorectal cancer liver metastases revealed a role for the infiltrate density not only for prognosis but also in the prediction of treatment response. This not only broadens the view on these infiltrates and indicates a systematic role of the local immunological microenvironment, but also raises the question how these infiltrates change during repeated courses of treatment (i.e., resection, chemotherapy, etc.). To address this question, sequential lung or sequential liver metastases of colorectal cancer patients were analyzed using whole slide image quantification after immunohistochemical staining against CD3, CD8, FOXP3, CD68 and Granzyme B. The clinical data and interventions were associated with each individual patient and the metastatic lesions. The resulting cell densities reveal a heterogeneous profile: after successful treatment of a metastatic lesion, the recurrent lesion can still have the same immunophenotype with similar cell distributions. In a situation of a favorable immune cell profile, this profile can return and apparently convey a similar favorable course throughout the disease. But also the opposite was found: the recurrent metastatic lesion could have a different profile with alterations in specific immune cell subsets over time. Further analyses are required to elucidate the different patterns and their associations to the treatment, the tumor cell phenotype and other dynamic factors. However, it is clear from this data however, that there is an immune cell plasticity that needs to be analyzed for individual patients
Abstract 396: Sequential metastases of colorectal cancer: Treatment, immunophenotypes and spatial distributions of infiltrating immune cells
No full textAbstract 795: Patterns of T-cell distribution at the invasive margin of colorectal cancer liver metastases: Downstream recruitment of T cells and spatial heterogeneity
No full textHepatic metastases of colorectal cancer are rather homogeneous but differ from primary lesions in terms of immune cell infiltration
No full textThe immune system plays an important role in shaping the clinical course of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it is still unclear how the immune infiltrates of primary CRC lesions and distant metastases by immune effector cells are related to each other. To address this issue, we quantified CD3+, CD8+ and granzyme B+ lymphocytes in primary CRC samples and corresponding liver metastases. This analysis showed that the prognostic predictions that can be drawn from the infiltration of immune cells in primary CRCs and their metastases are heterogeneous. To investigate whether such heterogeneity would also be observed within CRC hepatic metastases, the density of the immune infiltrate and cytokine production were assessed in opposite sides of the same metastatic lesion. In addition, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed in sequential sections of the same metastatic lesion, with a spacing of 30 μm. In summary, consistent cell counts and cytokine levels were detected within the same lesion. The study of a case of synchronous metastases, however, suggested that different metastatic lesions within the same patient may be heterogeneous, perhaps indicating a major impact for local causes on tumor infiltration by immune cells. In summary, our study demonstrates a consistent degree of heterogeneity between primary tumors and hepatic metastases but an excellent intra-lesional homogeneity. These findings may be of key importance for patient stratification and the development of personalized strategies against CRC
Quantification of prognostic immune cell markers in colorectal cancer using whole slide imaging tumor maps
No full textTo analyze intratumoral heterogeneity of immune cells and the resulting impact of heterogeneity on the level of individual patient prediction
Quantification of prognostic immune cell markers in colorectal cancer using whole slide imaging tumor maps
No full textTo analyze intratumoral heterogeneity of immune cells and the resulting impact of heterogeneity on the level of individual patient prediction
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