Techniques for Profiling the Cellular Immune Response and Their Implications for Interventional Oncology

Abstract

In recent years there has been increased interest in using the immune contexture of the primary tumors to predict the patient’s prognosis. The tumor microenvironment of patients with cancers consists of different types of lymphocytes, tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, dendritic cells, and others. Different technologies can be used for the evaluation of the tumor microenvironment, all of which require a tissue or cell sample. Image-guided tissue sampling is a cornerstone in the diagnosis, stratification, and longitudinal evaluation of therapeutic efficacy for cancer patients receiving immunotherapies. Therefore, interventional radiologists (IRs) play an essential role in the evaluation of patients treated with systemically administered immunotherapies. This review provides a detailed description of different technologies used for immune assessment and analysis of the data collected from the use of these technologies. The detailed approach provided herein is intended to provide the reader with the knowledge necessary to not only interpret studies containing such data but also design and apply these tools for clinical practice and future research studies.

New Challenges for Anatomists in the Era of Omics

“…For example, spatial transcriptomics has been used to study the molecular architecture of the brain [ 120 ], the spatial distribution of immune cells within tumors [ 121 ], and the gene expression patterns associated with specific cell types within the gut [ 122 ]. These studies have provided valuable insights into the complex biological processes that govern tissue function and have opened up new avenues for the development of targeted therapies for various diseases [ 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 ].…”

Gastric Cancer and the Immune System: The Key to Improving Outcomes?

“…Multiple subtypes of B cells have been shown to infiltrate the TME, including those for antibody production, those for antigen presentation, and regulatory B cells, which suppress immune responses [ 21 ]. B cells have been shown to arrange into tertiary lymphoid structures with noted anti-tumor antibody production in GC samples [ 22 ].…”

The other immuno-PET: Metabolic tracers in evaluation of immune responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for solid tumors

“…By being target-focused, immunomonitoring methods have the potential to provide: 1) better understanding of the drugs’ mechanism of action and treatment resistance, 2) earlier assessment of response to therapy, 3) patient/therapy selection, 4) evaluation of toxicity and 5) more accurate end-point in clinical trials. Multiple sophisticated technologies, both tissue- and blood-based, have been developed that aid in immune contexture phenotyping ( 10 ). In this review we focus on the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging biomarkers and the role they play in assessing immune response to ICI.…”