Three-dimensional quantification of tumor microenvironment in tongue squamous cell carcinoma

本研究旨在获得舌鳞状细胞癌(SCC)微环境中肿瘤侵袭模式、血管网络和成纤维细胞/巨噬细胞聚集的三维定量信息。在批准的两年期间，使用来自30例鳞状细胞癌患者的100个连续组织切片进行三维重建。采用免疫组织化学方法结合抗体(细胞角蛋白、Ki-67、CD31、CD105、CD34、CD68、α-SMA、S100A4)分析肿瘤实质和间质的表型和构筑。由此产生的3D结构提供了足够的空间分辨率来捕捉单个细胞、肿瘤血管的异常发散和弯曲、肿瘤血管的侵袭和间质细胞。我们的经验证明，三维重建为验证癌细胞、血管内皮细胞、肌成纤维细胞(CAF)和巨噬细胞()之间的空间相关性提供了必要的工具。

The present study aimed at gaining 3D quantitative information about carcinoma invasion pattern, vascular network and accumulating fibroblasts/macrophages in the microenvironment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). During the approved 2-year period, 3D reconstruction was achieved using 100 serial histological sections that were prepared from 30 cases of SCC. Phenotypes and architecture of carcinoma parenchyma and stroma were characterized by stepwise immunohistochemistry in combination with antibodies(cytokeratin, Ki-67, CD31, CD105, CD34, CD68,αSMA, S100A4). The resulting 3D constructs provided spatial resolution enough to grasp individual cells, aberrant divergence and tortuosity of tumor vessels, carcinoma vascular invasion and stromal cells. Our experience proved that 3D reconstruction offers an essential tool to validate the spatial association of cancer cells, vascular endothelial cells, myofibroblasts(CAF) and macrophages(TAM).