Recent advances in tissue imaging for cancer research

Introduction

Methodology for imaging human or mouse tissues has seen great progress, ranging from basic histopathological analysis under the microscope to recent automation (computer-assisted diagnosis and machine learning technologies) and image digitalisation. In addition to clinical research, histopathology combined with imaging is a valuable tool to assess in situ changes in tissue specimens in an array of solid tumors. Such analysis can be either a starting point for investigation followed by dissection of cellular and molecular mechanisms or the endpoint validation of in vitro findings.

In this review, we discuss the recent advances in high-performance tissue imaging. We classify the tissue imaging modalities into three major groups: immunohistochemistry (IHC) (with a focus on new digital imaging techniques), multiplex flow cytometry, and intravital microscopy. We summarise the strengths and possible applications of these methods for discovery science and for translational/clinical applications.

Immunohistochemistry and digital pathology

Observation is the first and one of the most fundamental steps in scientific methodology. Studies combining tissue dissection and microscopy are crucial in diagnosis and biomedical translational research^1,2. However, accurate and quantitative image analysis still remains the main a challenge³. IHC-based applications have expanded significantly over the last decade⁴.

IHC is a method for detecting antigens or haptens in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of specific antigen–antibody recognition. The antibody–antigen binding can be visualised in different ways. Enzymes, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP), are commonly used to catalyse a colour-producing reaction⁵. Furthermore, one of the key advantages of IHC is that it offers combined histopathological information (i.e. tissue necrosis, tumor load, and architecture of surrounding non-tumoral components) with biomarker expression. Molecular and clinical oncologists studying the tumour microenvironment (TME) need to better understand the heterogeneous cellular components and structure of tumours to predict therapy responses.

Multiplexed IHC (mIHC) methods have been developed to detect several proteins in a single formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue section. Currently, several protocols have been described for staining in a multiplexed fashion. The most extended methodology combines conventional IHC protocols with imaging and image analysis, referred to as SIMPLE (sequential immunoperoxidase labelling and erasing). As implied by its name, this method involves labelling a sample with peroxidase-based indirect IHC and subsequent removal of the alcohol-soluble substrate, 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC), combined with an acid-based antibody elution step. Several markers (antibodies) can be used after repetition of these steps. Digital reconstruction of the different markers used is then performed, and subsequently the images are overlaid and pseudocolours to each marker are assigned. Hence, SIMPLE is a useful approach to eliminate the problems associated with multiprobe colour compatibility and antigens located in the same cellular compartment. On the other hand, multiplexing may be challenging owing to compromised tissue integrity after repetitive rounds of ethanol dehydration and heat-induced antigen retrieval^6,7. To address this, different protocols have been developed where tyramide signal amplification (TSA) methods are used. Tyramide is an organic phenol that can be conjugated to biotin or fluorescent labels. In the presence of a catalyst like HRP, tyramide becomes activated and covalently bound to electron-rich regions. This typically occurs on tyrosine residues in proteins, present in the vicinity of protein antigens. The covalent nature of tyramide–tyrosine engagement results in heat-mediated removal (stripping) of primary and secondary antibody pairs bound to the antigen while preserving the antigen-associated fluorescence signal. This facilitates the sequential use of multiple primary antibodies of the same host species or isotype without the problem/concern of crosstalk, thereby greatly enabling multiplexing potential⁸. One of the best-known mIHC TSA-based methods is Opal™ IHC kit, which is part of PerkinElmer’s Phenoptics™ Research Solution for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. Opal™ uses tyramide-conjugated probes to identify several antigens on tissues and currently can detect up to seven markers simultaneously.

In recent years, a plethora of image analysis software has been developed. Led by ImageJ, there is now a selection of tools such as ImageJ-Fiji, Icy, and CellProfiler to perform image analysis in multiple disciplines^9–11. However, none of these applications can be used for the visualisation and analysis of whole slide images (WSI) and large 2D data. For this reason, there is an increasing interest in developing software designed for digital pathology uses. Visiopharm, Definiens Inc., Halo (Indica Labs), Quantcenter (3DHistech), or open source Qupath¹² can be used to analyse WSI data. Overall, these systems share features that provide accurate tissue segmentation and spectral deconvolution for fluorophores and chromogens. Algorithms are used to train the software to classify cells. For example, hue value/width, intensity threshold scoring, morphology/geometrical characterisation, pixel-count threshold, and colour saturation are some of the features that can be used to characterise cells in different tissue areas. Even though artificial intelligence (AI) is already used in radiology and cardiology for image-based diagnosis¹³, its application to digital pathology is challenging. Currently, the application of AI in digital pathology is confined to several research studies and dedicated companies. Among the areas where AI is already being used are education (teaching at conferences and training of pathologists), quality assurance (teleconsulting and gauging inter- and intra-observer and proficiency testing), clinical diagnosis, and image analysis^14–17.

IHC combined with digital pathology software has the potential to benefit both basic and clinical research (see applications below).

Applications of digital pathology in translational cancer research

Imaging and flow cytometry for tissue analysis

Flow cytometry is a powerful quantitative technique that allows multiplexing in high-throughput systems (HTS), providing fast and automated sample acquisition (i.e. HTS screening assays). Specifically, multi-parameter flow cytometry (up to 18 colours simultaneously) has enabled high-resolution quantification of cell types, analysis of cell surface and intracellular molecules, immunophenotyping analysis, functional characteristics of different cell populations, and many more. Similarly, mass cytometry can measure >40 parameters simultaneously, necessitating high-dimensional cytometry data analysis with algorithms, such as viSNE (visualize relationships in multidimensional data) and SPADE (spanning-tree progression analysis of density-normalized events). This allows complex data analysis and visualisation of different cell features^59,60. Flow cytometry, in general, has found numerous applications not only in basic research but also in fields like diagnostics and clinical pathology, with a fundamental role in immunology. However, the main limitation of such technology is the use of single-cell suspensions. Therefore, any analysis requires enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissociation of the tissue during sample preparation. Moreover, flow cytometry does not allow spatial information of cell populations of interest within the tissue, along with cell number loss due to tissue processing⁶¹. Any cancer cell–non cancer cell interactions (i.e. relationship between tumours cells and immune infiltrates) or information regarding tissue architecture is not possible with flow cytometry⁶¹. To address these limitations, a new technology that combines imaging and flow cytometry has been developed^62,63.

Indeed, the so-called field of imaging cytometry is rapidly evolving. In contrast to conventional flow cytometry, imaging offers information about cell structure, size, morphology, and location of cells within the tissue. Based on the sample (cell suspension, adherent cells, or tissue specimens), flow-based (represented by the ImageStream) and solid-phase imaging cytometry have been defined as the two categories of imaging cytometry⁶⁴. For the purpose of this review, we will focus on the latter category only.

Laser scanning cytometry

The first solid-phase imaging cytometry, known as laser scanning cytometry (LSC), was developed by Louis Kamentsky and became commercially available by CompuCyte Corporation (acquired by Thorlabs Inc. in 2013), pioneering the field of automated quantitative imaging cytometry^62,63.

From a technical point of view, LSC couples high-sensitivity and accurate signal quantification, utilising flow cytometry advantages of laser excitation and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), with the spatial resolution of microscopy. For a representative list of the most common imaging cytometers, please see Henriksen et al.⁶⁴. Prototypically, the laser scanning beam was derived from an argon ion laser and later also a helium–neon laser and a violet diode laser that were all combined at a dichroic mirror and guided to a second dichroic mirror to reflect the laser wavelengths^62,65. The laser beam is directed to a computer-controlled scan mirror and passes through a scan lens and then to the microscope objective. Scattered light is collected by the condenser lens of the microscope and directed to solid-state photosensors. The appropriate PMTs are used to detect laser-excited epi-illumination fluorescence. The photosensor and PMT signals are digitised to create pixel values and are gathered into images⁶⁵. As the beam is scanned over the sample in one axis (y), the stage is moved by the computer-controlled motor in the x-axis, generating x–y coordinates⁶⁶. Nowadays, to allow multiplexing, an LSC is equipped with up to four lasers from six wavelengths in total: 405 nm, 488 nm, 532 nm, 594 nm, 561 nm, and 633 nm⁶⁷. It is worth mentioning that in addition to PMT-based LSC, charge-coupled device (CCD)-based systems also exist. The latter comprises a dense array of sensors employing widefield illumination. By contrast, PMTs are usually combined with laser spot-scanning to provide high dynamic range. They also have a higher bandwidth and lower signal-to-noise ratio compared to CCD-based systems^64,68. Comparison between LSC and other imaging technologies, such as laser confocal microscopy or conventional flow cytometry, is beyond the scope of this review. For detailed reviews, see 65,68.

Given that LSC is a slide-based technology, it offers many advantages. Cell morphology, precise anatomical information, cell–cell interactions in situ, signalling, and functional and phenotypic characterisation simultaneously with visualisation of cells of interest are some of the main applications of LSC^61,65. Other common applications involve cell cycle and DNA damage analysis and kinetic studies⁶⁷. The areas that have greatly benefited from LSC are immunology, cytogenetics, diagnostics, and clinical pathology. In contrast to inter-examiners’ reproducibility and the technical limitations of conventional IHC that have been mentioned above, LSC offers objective and accurate quantification in an automated and time-lapse manner. For this reason, histological sections, fine-needle aspirates, patient and healthy volunteers’ swabs, and cytospins have all been widely employed for LSC. Specifically, a comparative study of LSC versus IHC analysis of melanoma-associated antigen recognised by T cells (MART-1), glycoprotein 100 (gp100), and HLA-A2 expression in fine-needle aspirates has highlighted the accuracy of LSC⁶⁹. Importantly, LSC could allow the discrimination of heterogeneous melanoma antigen expression in subsets of melanoma cells within the same lesion⁶⁹. On the other hand, the so-called “tissue maps” can be created from the x–y coordinates, allowing the quantification and visualisation of molecular profiles⁶⁵.

Of note, chromatic or fluorescent dyes can be used for tissue staining⁶⁴. There are four types of contour accurately defining single cells. A “threshold contour” is defined by nuclear DNA staining, whilst an “integration contour” is defined by cell-surface marker staining. “Peripheral contours” could potentially define the region between the nucleus and cell surface, and finally “background contour” is used for non-cell areas to allow the calculation of the background fluorescence⁶⁵. Routinely, two- or three-colour chromatically or fluorescently stained tissue specimens, but also multiplexing, are available for the simultaneous evaluation of patients’ biopsies, tissue microarrays (TMAs), and tissue sections⁶¹. For example, breast or prostate TMAs have been successfully stained for anti-Her2/3’-diaminobenzidine (DAB)/counterstain with hematoxylin and anti-CD10/DAB/counterstain with hematoxylin, respectively^64,70. In contrast to IHC, LSC can distinguish immune cell populations based on the chromatin condensation⁷¹. Another important feature of LSC is the spatial resolution of fluorescence within a cell enabling the nuclear versus cytoplasmic analysis of targets (i.e. NF-κB translocation in the nucleus)⁶¹. Furthermore, visualisation and quantification of antigen presentation-related processes, lymphocyte migration, and signalling events can all be dissected by LSC^65,72. Overall, analysis of the immune response in situ is improved aided by the use of LSC⁶⁵.

Moreover, given that the slide position on the stage is recorded, relocation and re-staining of the sample are possible, while the laser excitation wavelength can also be changed between different runs⁷³. These features are particularly important, as patient biopsies are precious and can thus be analysed for rare cell populations which exemplifies the versatility of the LSC⁶⁵.

Histo-cytometry

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that a new method for multiplex quantitative image analysis, known as “histo-cytometry”, was developed by Gerner et al. in 2012⁷⁴. Such an analytical confocal microscopy method allows visualisation and quantification of phenotypically different immune cell populations within murine lymph nodes. Of note, the authors have used this methodology to provide novel information about the distribution of resident and migratory dendritic cell subsets in discrete lymph node microcompartments.

Overall, LSC combines the advantages of multiparameter flow cytometry and quantitative data analysis with the visualisation and morphometrics offered by imaging to provide high sensitivity and dynamic range. Dissection of TME components, proliferation and apoptosis of cells alongside accurate anatomical information for tumour cells, immune infiltrates, blood vessels, is possible using LSC. Future advances in software options for LSC, in addition to the development of more methods combining imaging and flow cytometry, will allow in vivo screening in real time.

Intravital microscopy

Non-linear optical microscopy has seen great progress since the development of two-photon laser-scanning microscopy, the availability of in vivo fluorescent labelling for targets of interest, and the advancement of genetic tools to modify gene expression^75,76. Specifically, intravital imaging using multi-photon microscopy has proved to be an invaluable technique to image many biological processes in vivo at great depth and high resolution⁷⁷. In fact, such an imaging tool has provided flexibility in capturing cell–cell interactions, tissue dynamics and architecture, tumour–host interactions, cancer cell migration, and the dynamics of metastatic dissemination^78,79. The principles of intravital imaging are beyond the scope of this review. For detailed reviews on this topic, please see 77,80,81.

Great work has been done by several groups in visualising ECM, tumour cells, immune infiltrates, and other TME components in live rodents. Among the research areas that intravital imaging has shown great potential is cancer cell migration an indispensable step during metastasis⁷⁸. Directed cell migration involves (a) individual cell migration (rounded-amoeboid and elongated-mesenchymal) and (b) collective migration as multicellular groups, such as cell sheets or strands⁸². In vivo intravital imaging of xenografts (nude mice injected in the mammary fat with rat MTLn3 mammary carcinoma cells) has shown that breast cancer cells migrate and invade using the collective mode of motility in order to enter lymphatic vessels⁸³. In contrast, within the same study, individually migrating breast cancer cells using the amoeboid-rounded type of motility were shown to enter the bloodstream for metastatic dissemination⁸³. On the other hand, multicellular streaming (two to three cells co-migrating in a directional fashion) of human breast cancer cells has been reported to be correlated with a vascularised microenvironment and intravasation in two orthotopic xenograft models⁸⁴. Of note, macrophages were shown to be necessary for multicellular streaming in those breast tumours⁸⁴. In fact, intravital imaging has revealed that breast cancer cells interact with macrophages in a paracrine manner to co-migrate in vivo in a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer (MMTV-PyMT)⁸⁵. Strikingly, intravital imaging in melanoma xenografts together with histopathological analysis of melanoma patients’ biopsies revealed that the invasive fronts of melanomas are enriched in rounded-amoeboid cancer cells^{23,24,26,27,86}. On the other hand, physical cues from the surrounding TME are important in determining the invasion mode of cancer cells⁸⁷. Indeed, dimension (2D or 3D), density, orientation, porosity, and stiffness (rigidity) of the ECM can altogether affect the invasion strategy of cancer cells⁸⁸. Intravital imaging and histopathological analysis have shown that tissue structures can act as a guide for both single cell and collective cell migration strategies⁸⁸.

Therefore, it becomes apparent that cancer cell migration, from detachment from the primary tumour to metastatic dissemination, is a process that should be investigated further considering the complex bidirectional interactions of cancer cells with their surrounding microenvironment. In fact, cancer cells have been shown to migrate along ECM fibres using the amoeboid-rounded type of movement⁷⁸. Metastasis is very complex and includes a variety of processes such as invasion, intravasation, and extravasation, all of which can be visualised thanks to the advances in intravital microscopy. Indeed, studies have described differences in cancer cell motility and the tumour microenvironment in primary and metastatic tumours⁸⁹. For example, during intravasation, metastatic versus primary mammary adenocarcinoma cells have been shown to move using the amoeboid-rounded type of intact single cell migration towards blood vessels⁸⁹. Similarly, non-metastatic cells tend to undergo fragmentation when interacting with blood vessels⁸⁵. On the other hand, ECM fibres assemble on blood vessels in mammary tumours⁷⁸. All of these important observations regarding the metastatic cascade were shown using intravital imaging approaches.

Nevertheless, inherent motion, such as respiratory and cardiac motion, of live animals represents a major challenge and lowers the resolution and the area being imaged. To circumvent this limitation, Condeelis’ group has combined mosaicked-stitched imaging with intravital imaging of live tissues to generate a new method—large-volume, high-resolution intravital imaging (LVHR-IV)—thereby developing a new approach for tissue stabilisation⁹⁰. In general, advancement in fluorescent probes, software, and data analysis tools and tissue stabilisation techniques have addressed several challenges in intravital microscopy.

On the other hand, intravital imaging has provided great insight into the mechanisms of therapy response and resistance in cancer⁷⁹. For example, BRAF-mutant melanoma cells have been reported to develop resistance to BRAF inhibition in vivo due to “paradoxical” activation of melanoma-associated fibroblasts in the TME⁹¹. Additionally, intravital spinning disk confocal microscopy has visualised the interaction between tumour-specific T cells and dendritic cells intratumorally, improving our understanding in immunotherapy responses⁹². For a detailed review on intravital imaging applications on tumour–host interactions and therapy response, please see 79.

Overall, our knowledge about the stages of cancer cell metastasis, cancer cell morphology and motility, tumour heterogeneity, and tumour–stroma interactions have all been significantly improved upon using intravital imaging.

Nevertheless, intravital imaging has several limitations compared to in vivo multimodality imaging. Specifically, multimodal imaging techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, have proved to be invaluable diagnostic tools. These are routinely used in the clinic and have no penetration depth limit⁹³. In fact, the bio-distribution of therapeutic agents can be better examined using such macroscopic imaging tools compared to intravital imaging. The latter, by contrast, provides anatomical and physiological information at a molecular and subcellular level. The applications of multimodal imaging technologies will not be discussed here. For a detailed review on the above and pre-clinical and clinical imaging in cancer, see 93,94. One of the main challenges of intravital imaging is associated with the light absorption and scattering and thus potential low in-focus light emission and out-of-focus light from the tissue of interest⁹⁵. Despite intravital microscopy being powerful for live cell tracking, it is limited by the duration of tracking and area of imaging⁹⁵. Hence, the entire course of metastasis cannot be monitored by intravital imaging.

Other cancer tissue imaging modalities

Other techniques in the field that have contributed to the progress of cancer research include light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). LSFM is a technique with an intermediate-to-high optical resolution, but good optical sectioning capabilities and high speed. LSFM can efficiently visualise large tissue samples in three dimensions^96,97, and volumetric 3D imaging can uncover detailed information about the inner landscape of tumours, which can improve cancer diagnosis and therapy⁹⁸. It also shortens the pathological diagnosis to minutes while the patient is still in the operating room. Whole-body imaging in the medical context can also be applied using SPECT or PET in combination with appropriate contrast agents in order to identify cancer cells in vivo^93,99. For preclinical studies, cancer cells can be engineered to express reporters, enabling in vivo cancer cell tracking and 3D tomography¹⁰⁰. However, fewer imaging tracers have been translated to the clinic because of several bottlenecks (specificity, selectivity, cost, etc.). On the other hand, label-free and high-resolution optical microscopes that can directly identify and image native biomolecules are available. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) uses ionised molecules to collect a mass spectrum at each pixel of the tissue section. MSI has the capacity to determine the relative intensity and spatial distribution of several hundreds of compounds from cells and tissue while retaining important spatial information¹⁰¹. MSI has been used for the molecular analysis of cancerous cells and tissues with the aim of identifying tumour margins¹⁰². MSI has also been used to classify primary tumour tissues with regard to chemo-response and metastatic status¹⁰³ and to identify diagnostic and prognostic markers. Furthermore, MSI has been successfully employed to study drug response and resistance rates¹⁰⁴. On the other hand, Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a hybrid modality that combines imaging and spectroscopy. By collecting spectral information at each pixel of a 2D detector array, HSI generates a 3D dataset of spatial and spectral information, known as hypercube¹⁰⁵. Therefore, HSI offers great potential for non-invasive disease diagnosis and surgical guidance. Advanced non-linear imaging modalities like coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopies have been proposed to improve spatial resolution (up to 130 nm). It is therefore a useful imaging approach that enables the generation of images through endogenous chemical species already present in biological tissues¹⁰⁶.

Conclusions and outlook

Great progress has been made towards dissecting spatiotemporal processes in tissues thanks to an array of advances in microscopy and image analysis which are all summarized in Table 1. We have reported multiple applications of H&E, IHC, and imaging flow cytometry in histological sections. Combining these techniques with new digital pathology platforms has great potential to make faster and more robust observations. Using complementary imaging techniques, such as intravital imaging or LSC combined with multiplex IHC and deep learning methods of the same tissues, would provide more detailed dynamic and molecular information regarding how the TME controls tumorigenesis and metastasis.