Multiplexed Tissue Imaging Poised to Transform Precision Oncology Workflows
This review systematically compares highly multiplexed imaging modalities capable of spatial analysis of dozens of markers at single-cell resolution, evaluating their advantages, limitations, and clinical implementation paths. The technologies offer advances in tumor ecosystem characterization, biomarker discovery, and patient stratification that go beyond conventional IHC and gene panel sequencing.
The original study
Highly Multiplexed Tissue Imaging in Precision Oncology and Translational Cancer Research.
- Authors
- Bollhagen A, Bodenmiller B
- Journal
- Cancer discovery
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 39485249
Original abstract
Precision oncology tailors treatment strategies to a patient's molecular and health data. Despite the essential clinical value of current diagnostic methods, hematoxylin and eosin morphology, immunohistochemistry, and gene panel sequencing offer an incomplete characterization. In contrast, highly multiplexed tissue imaging allows spatial analysis of dozens of markers at single-cell resolution enabling analysis of complex tumor ecosystems; thereby it has the potential to advance our understanding of cancer biology and supports drug development, biomarker discovery, and patient stratification. We describe available highly multiplexed imaging modalities, discuss their advantages and disadvantages for clinical use, and potential paths to implement these into clinical practice. Significance: This review provides guidance on how high-resolution, multiplexed tissue imaging of patient samples can be integrated into clinical workflows. It systematically compares existing and emerging technologies and outlines potential applications in the field of precision oncology, thereby bridging the ever-evolving landscape of cancer research with practical implementation possibilities of highly multiplexed tissue imaging into routine clinical practice.