Spatial computation of intratumoral T cells correlates with survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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| Abstract | :  The exact nature and dynamics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) immune composition remains largely unknown. Desmoplasia is suggested to polarize PDAC immunity. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the composition and distribution of desmoplastic elements and T-cell infiltration is necessary to delineate their roles. Here we develop a novel computational imaging technology for the simultaneous evaluation of eight distinct markers, allowing for spatial analysis of distinct populations within the same section. We report a heterogeneous population of infiltrating T lymphocytes. Spatial distribution of cytotoxic T cells in proximity to cancer cells correlates with increased overall patient survival. Collagen-I and αSMA fibroblasts do not correlate with paucity in T-cell accumulation, suggesting that PDAC desmoplasia may not be a simple physical barrier. Further exploration of this technology may improve our understanding of how specific stromal composition could impact T-cell activity, with potential impact on the optimization of immune-modulatory therapies. | 
| Year of Publication | :  2017 | 
| Journal | :  Nature communications | 
| Volume | :  8 | 
| Number of Pages | :  15095 | 
| Date Published | :  2017 | 
| URL | :  http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15095 | 
| DOI | :  10.1038/ncomms15095 | 
| Short Title | :  Nat Commun | 
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