Abstract 1654: Highly multiplexed analysis of FFPE breast tissues using the codex technology

Highly multiplexed imaging has emerged as a critical tool in understanding the complexities of the tumor microenvironment. This technology enables detection of tens of markers within the same tissue specimen, thereby allowing for key cell identification, quantification and spatial localization. These measurements can in turn provide insights into disease mechanisms and effective treatment modalities. In particular, with the high incidence of breast cancer and the need for early diagnosis and precise treatment regimens, highly multiplexed imaging could improve our understanding of this disease and provide the necessary data for improvements to patient health. Here, we demonstrate the development of a breast cancer specific CODEX panel for the measurement of more than 30 specific markers. The CODEX (Co-Detection by indEXing) platform enables detection of tens of markers within the same tissue specimen through a DNA-based tagging approach, whereby antibodies are labeled with specific oligonucleotide tags (barcodes) and dye-oligonucleotides (reporters) are iteratively hybridized and dehybridized across multiple cycles. This process is completely automated through the CODEX instrument in combination with existing fluorescent microscopes. Using FFPE Human breast cancer tissues at different stages as well as normal FFPE Human breast tissue utilizing the CODEX platform, data was generated for 30+ different biomarkers. This antibody panel was designed to detect cancer cells as well as non-malignant cells as part of tumor microenvironment to enable a better understanding of communication between the cells. The CODEX generated data was analyzed using the CODEX software suite to identify key cell types and analyze the spatial association between them. Upon analysis of data obtained, it was found that the biomarkers expression between the three samples were distinctly different. Using the CODEX technology, we were able to identify and classify key cell types and map the spatial localization of more than 20 key cell types. Citation Format: Nadezhda Nikulina, Oliver Braubach, Sayantani Basak, Maria Elena Gallina, Won-Mean Lee, Joseph Kim, Cassandra Hempel, Edek Williams, Olive Shang, Ben Cheung, Julia Kennedy-Darling. Highly multiplexed analysis of FFPE breast tissues using the codex technology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1654.