Spatial Immune Cell Analysis in Cancer: Methods Compendium and Path to Clinical Utility
This major international working group report reviews current methods for spatial analysis of immune cell infiltration in tumors, comparing raster-based and vector-based approaches alongside machine learning quantification. The authors compile spatial immune cell metrics reported across multiple cancer types, summarizing their prognostic associations, and critically discuss two established clinical biomarkers · breast cancer stromal TILs and the colon cancer Immunoscore. The report identifies key opportunities to improve the clinical utility of spatial biomarkers through standardization of methods and computational approaches.
The original study
Spatial analyses of immune cell infiltration in cancer: current methods and future directions: A report of the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group on Breast Cancer.
- Authors
- Page DB, Broeckx G, Jahangir CA, Verbandt S, Gupta RR, Thagaard J, et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of pathology
- Type
- Journal Article, Review, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- PMID
- 37608771
Original abstract
Modern histologic imaging platforms coupled with machine learning methods have provided new opportunities to map the spatial distribution of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, there exists no standardized method for describing or analyzing spatial immune cell data, and most reported spatial analyses are rudimentary. In this review, we provide an overview of two approaches for reporting and analyzing spatial data (raster versus vector-based). We then provide a compendium of spatial immune cell metrics that have been reported in the literature, summarizing prognostic associations in the context of a variety of cancers. We conclude by discussing two well-described clinical biomarkers, the breast cancer stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes score and the colon cancer Immunoscore, and describe investigative opportunities to improve clinical utility of these spatial biomarkers. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.