Deep immunophenotyping of cancer microenvironments by Imaging Mass Cytometry™

Multiplex immunophenotyping technologies are indispensable for a deeper understanding of biological systems. Until recently, high-dimensional cellular analyses implied the loss of tissue context because most were performed in single-cell suspensions. The advent of Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™) has enabled highly multiplexed immunohistochemistry of frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues using proven CyTOF technology.

This presentation supports the implementation of IMC in other laboratories. I will detail how my team developed an optimized workflow for maximum antibody performance and discuss some of the methodological challenges it needed to overcome to develop a large antibody panel to preserve signal intensity and specificity of antigen detection.

Finally, I will outline why the panel is an excellent immune monitoring tool that can be readily applied in the context of research and clinical trials.