Next-generation pathology--surveillance of tumor microecology.
A tumor is a heterogeneous population of cells that provides an environment in which every cell resides in a microenvironmental niche. Microscopic evaluation of tissue sections, based on histology and immunohistochemistry, has been a cornerstone in pathology for decades. However, the dawn of novel technologies to investigate genetic aberrations is currently adopted in routine molecular pathology. We herein describe our view on how recent developments in molecular technologies, focusing on proximity ligation assay and padlock probes, can be applied to merge the two branches of pathology, allowing molecular profiling under histologic observation. We also discuss how the use of image analysis will be pivotal to obtain information at a cellular level and to interpret holistic images of tissue sections. By understanding the cellular communications in the microecology of tumors, we will be at a better position to predict disease progression and response to therapy.
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden.
Björn
B
Koos
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden.
Masood
M
Kamali-Moghaddam
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Oncology of the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal.
Leonor
L
David
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Oncology of the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal.
Manuel
M
Sobrinho-Simões
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden.
Anna
A
Dimberg
Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 171 21 Solna, Sweden.
Mats
M
Nilsson
Centre for Image Analysis, Department of Information Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75105 Uppsala, Sweden.
Carolina
C
Wählby
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ola.soderberg@igp.uu.se.
Ola
O
Söderberg
D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
image analysis; molecular profiling; padlock probe; pathology; proximity ligation assay