Journal Article

DKFZ-2024-00901

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Mast Cells in the Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Confer Favorable Prognosis: A Retrospective Study using QuPath Image Analysis Software.

Ali, E. ; Červenková, L. ; Pálek, R. ; Ambrozkiewicz, F. ; Pavlov, S. ; Ye, W. ; Hošek, P. ; Daum, O. ; Liška, V. ; Hemminki, K.DKFZ* ; Trailin, A.

2024
JoVE Cambridge, MA

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3791/66743

Abstract: The insights provided by in-situ detection of immune cells within hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) might present information on patient outcomes. Studies investigating the expression and localization of immune cells within tumor tissues are associated with several challenges, including a lack of precise annotation for tumor regions and random selection of microscopic fields of view. QuPath is an open-source, user-friendly software that could meet the growing need for digital pathology in whole-slide image (WSI) analysis. The infiltration of HCC and adjacent tissues by CD1a+ immature dendritic cells (iDCs), CD117+ mast cells, and NKp46+ natural killer cells (NKs) cells was assessed immunohistochemically in representative specimens of 67 patients with HCC who underwent curative resection. The area fraction (AF) of positively stained cells was assessed automatically in WSIs using QuPath in the tumor center (TC), inner margin (IM), outer margin (OM), and peritumor (PT) area. The prognostic significance of immune cells was evaluated for time to recurrence (TTR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). The AF of mast cells was significantly greater than the AF of NKs, and the AF of iDCs was significantly lower compared to NKs in each region of interest. High AFs of mast cells in the IM and PT areas were associated with longer DFS. In addition, high AF of mast cells in IM was associated with longer OS. Computer-assisted analysis using this software is a suitable tool for obtaining prognostic information for tumor-infiltrating immune cells (iDCs, mast cells, and NKs) in different regions of HCC after resection. Mast cells displayed the greatest AF in all regions of interest (ROIs). Mast cells in the peritumor region and IM showed a positive prognostic significance.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular: pathology (MeSH) ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular: immunology (MeSH) ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular: surgery (MeSH) ; Mast Cells: pathology (MeSH) ; Mast Cells: immunology (MeSH) ; Liver Neoplasms: pathology (MeSH) ; Liver Neoplasms: immunology (MeSH) ; Liver Neoplasms: surgery (MeSH) ; Retrospective Studies (MeSH) ; Prognosis (MeSH) ; Tumor Microenvironment: immunology (MeSH) ; Software (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted: methods (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH)

Note: April 2024 • 206 • e66743

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Erimitus im DKFZ (Z999)
2. Epidemiologie von Krebs (C020)

Research Program(s):

1. 313 - Krebsrisikofaktoren und Prävention (POF4-313) (POF4-313)

Appears in the scientific report 2024

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Database coverage:
; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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