Overview of Multiplex Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence Techniques in the Lung Cancer Immunotherapy

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy and is a major public health problem worldwide. Programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors provide a new treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The existing biomarkers all have advantages and defects in selecting patients who benefit from immunotherapy. The multiplex immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (mIHC/IF) provides multiplex staining, allows comprehensive studies of cellular composition, cellular functions and cell-cell interactions. A number of studies have used mIHC/IF to explore specific immune cells in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and found that it is helpful for clinical prognosis and efficacy prediction in patients with lung cancer. In the era of immunotherapy for lung cancer, this technique has a bright future in translational research and clinical practice. The research progress of mIHC/IF detection in lung cancer immunotherapy is summarized in this review.
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