Analysis of multispectral imaging with the AstroPath platform informs efficacy of PD-1 blockade

Science. 2021 Jun 11;372(6547):eaba2609. doi: 10.1126/science.aba2609.

Abstract

Next-generation tissue-based biomarkers for immunotherapy will likely include the simultaneous analysis of multiple cell types and their spatial interactions, as well as distinct expression patterns of immunoregulatory molecules. Here, we introduce a comprehensive platform for multispectral imaging and mapping of multiple parameters in tumor tissue sections with high-fidelity single-cell resolution. Image analysis and data handling components were drawn from the field of astronomy. Using this "AstroPath" whole-slide platform and only six markers, we identified key features in pretreatment melanoma specimens that predicted response to anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)-based therapy, including CD163+PD-L1- myeloid cells and CD8+FoxP3+PD-1low/mid T cells. These features were combined to stratify long-term survival after anti-PD-1 blockade. This signature was validated in an independent cohort of patients with melanoma from a different institution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / analysis
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • CD8 Antigens / analysis
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins / analysis
  • Macrophages / chemistry
  • Male
  • Melanoma / chemistry
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / analysis
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / analysis
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD163 antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • CD8 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • SOX10 protein, human
  • SOXE Transcription Factors