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Investigating the correlation between collagen expression in Breast Tumour Microenvironment for association with Stages and Survival Outcomes
Overview
The extracellular matrix (ECM) forms a scaffold of proteins around the cells to support and organise them. ECM differs in function, location and composition. The interstitial matrix forms a porous three-dimensional network around the cells and is rich in collagen I, III, V, etc., fibronectin and elastin. Recent studies have highlighted that aberration in the ECM mediated by the tumour has a role in metastasis.
Collagen is a crucial component of the ECM and plays an integral role in determining the mechanical properties of the tissue. With a cohort encompassing 100 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient samples and associated clinical and follow-up data, our investigation is focused on analysing collagen deposition in TNBC tissues using trichrome staining.
Milestones
Images
Breast biopsy samples-stained Masson Goldner’s Trichrome Staining for Collagen.
TNBC Profiling
Overview
TNBC is a molecularly heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer that is clinically aggressive and has a higher rate of recurrence. Due to the absence of a targetable therapy, cytotoxic systemic therapy followed by surgery remains the only option for TNBC treatment.
Goals
Determine the molecular profile of TNBC patients with respect to EGFR and AR expression in our cohort from India compared to Western cohorts.
Milestones
I. Poster presentation at 3rd ICGA Conference – 13th and 14th January 2023 “TNBC profiling based on protein expression of biomarkers”.
II. Anti-AR trial grant - Proposed an anti-AR trial for AR-positive TNCB patients as Extramural Research Programme Intermediate Grant with Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, Jehangir Hospital, and IISER, Pune
Image
Representative images showing whole-slide scan (WSI), smaller Regions-of-interest (ROIs) and positive and negative expression of AR and EGFR protein stained in TNBC tissue samples.
Profiling breast cancers for immune cells infiltration in TME
Overview
With the aim of understanding the heterogeneity in TNBC patients with respect to prognosis and treatment response, we assessed on the immune cells infiltrates surrounding the tumor cells in its microenvironment, comparing three subtypes of breast cancer.
Histopathological (H&E-stained) breast cancer tissue sections depicting various tissue components of breast TME.
Delineating these components of Tumor microenvironment will help us predict the clinical outcome for TNBC patients. We started by focusing on immune components of TME as it has been shown to be a major predictor of treatment response and time to relapse.
Publication
Pooja M. Vaid, Anirudha K. Puntambekar, Nutan S. Jumle, Rituja A. Banale, Danish Ansari, Ruhi R. Reddy, Rohini R. Unde, Namrata P. Namewar, Devaki A. Kelkar, L. S. Shashidhara, Chaitanyanand B. Koppiker & Madhura D. Kulkarni; “Evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in molecular subtypes of an Indian cohort of breast cancer patients.” Diagnostic Pathology 17, 91 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13000-022-01271-y
Images
Representative images of sTILs proportion in our cohort across subtypes – Vaid et al, 2023
Representative images immune cells (left) and T cell subtypes (right) of TNBC patient sample stained using multiplex IHC
Unmixed image panel of immune cells (top) and T cell subtypes (unmixed) of TNBC patient samples stained using multiplex IHC and imaged using Leica Aperio VERSA and analysed using HALO image analysis platform.