Search

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential in antitumor immunity. In humans, three main DC subsets are defined: two types of conventional DCs (cDC1s and cDC2s) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs). To study DC subsets in the tumor microenvironment (TME), it is important to correctly identify them in tumor tissues. Tumor‐derived DCs are often analyzed in cell suspensions in which spatial information about DCs which can be important to determine their function within the TME is lost. Therefore, we developed the first standardized and optimized multiplex immunohistochemistry panel, simultaneously detecting cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs within their tissue context. We report on this panel's development, validation, and quantitative analysis. A multiplex immunohistochemistry panel consisting of CD1c, CD303, X‐C motif chemokine receptor 1, CD14, CD19, a tumor marker, and DAPI was established. The ImmuNet machine learning pipeline was trained for the detection of DC subsets. The performance of ImmuNet was compared with conventional cell phenotyping software. Ultimately, frequencies of DC subsets within several tumors were defined. In conclusion, this panel provides a method to study cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs in the spatial context of the TME, which supports unraveling their specific roles in antitumor immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor budding (TB) is a strong biomarker of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer and other solid cancers. TB is defined as isolated single cancer cells or clusters of up to four cancer cells at the invasive tumor front. In areas with a large inflammatory response at the invasive front, single cells and cell clusters surrounding fragmented glands are observed appearing like TB. Occurrence of these small groups is referred to as pseudobudding (PsB), which arises due to external influences such as inflammation and glandular disruption. Using a combination of orthogonal approaches, we show that there are clear biological differences between TB and PsB. TB is representative of active invasion by presenting features of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and exhibiting increased deposition of extracellular matrix within the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), whereas PsB represents a reactive response to heavy inflammation where increased levels of granulocytes within the surrounding TME are observed. Our study provides evidence that areas with a strong inflammatory reaction should be avoided in the routine diagnostic assessment of TB. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumour metastasis is the result of a complex sequence of events, including migration of tumour cells through stroma, proteolytic degradation of stromal and vessel wall elements, intravasation, transport through the circulation, extravasation and outgrowth at compatible sites in the body (the 'seed and soil' hypothesis). However, the high incidence of metastasis from various tumour types in liver and lung may be explained by a stochastic process as well, based on the anatomical relationship of the primary tumour with the circulation and mechanical entrapment of metastatic tumour cells in capillary beds. We previously reported that constitutive VEGF-A expression in tumour xenografts facilitates this type of metastatic seeding by promoting shedding of multicellular tumour tissue fragments, surrounded by vessel wall elements, into the circulation. After transport through the vena cava, such fragments may be trapped in pulmonary arteries, allowing them to expand to symptomatic lesions. Here we tested whether this process has clinical relevance for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a prototype tumour in the sense of high constitutive VEGF-A expression. To this end we collected and analysed outflow samples from the renal vein, directly after tumour nephrectomy, in 42 patients diagnosed with ccRCC. Tumour fragments in venous outflow were observed in 33% of ccRCC patients and correlated with the synchronous presence or metachronous development of pulmonary metastases ( p < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). In patients with tumours that, in retrospect, were not of the VEGF-A-expressing clear cell type, tumour fragments were never observed in the renal outflow. These data suggest that, in ccRCC, a VEGF-A-induced phenotype promotes a release of tumour cell clusters into the circulation that may contribute to pulmonary metastasis. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is one of the most important angiogenic factors. Here, we studied in a nude mouse model whether the expression of VEGF-A in a tumor could be imaged with a radiolabeled anti-VEGF antibody. The humanized anti-VEGF-A antibody A.4.6.1. (bevacizumab), which is reactive with all VEGF-A isoforms, was radiolabeled with In-111 or with I-125. The accumulation of the radiolabeled antibodies in VEGF-A expressing tumors (LS174T) in nude mice was examined in biodistribution studies and by gamma camera imaging. The uptake of the In-111-bevacizumab in the tumor at 3 days p.i. was significantly higher than that of I-125-bevacizumab (19.4 ± 7.0 %ID/g vs. 9.6 ± 3.3 %ID/g, p = 0.04). Coinjection of an excess unlabeled antibody resulted in a significant decrease in radioactivity concentration in the tumor (<2.9 ± 1.9 %ID/g, p < 0.005), indicating VEGF-mediated antibody uptake. Highest uptake in the tumor was observed at relatively low antibody protein doses (<3 μg) (20-25 %ID/g). VEGF-A-expressing tumors could be clearly visualized on planar scintigraphic images from 24-hr post injection onwards. In conclusion, VEGF-A expression in tumors can be visualized specifically with radiolabeled anti-VEGF-A-mAb. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]