Abstract C013: Single cell analysis reveals tumor size-driven immune changes in primary breast tumors and corresponding lymph nodes
Authors: Rye Inga Hansine H. , Fjørtoft Marit Otterlei , Bergheim Inger Riise , Lande Karin Teien , Huse Kanutte H. , Myklebust June Helen H. , Lingjærde Ole Christian H. , Garred Øystein. , Lømo Jon H. , Russnes Hege H. 
Published: November 2024

Introduction A sentinel lymph node is the primary node draining the tumor and is likely affected early in the metastatic process. The sentinel node holds a key position in the immune response against tumor in breast and represents a unique connection between the tumor and the host immune response. Detection of lymph node metastasis is important for staging a patient’s disease and is closely associated with prognosis. Although the clinical significance is debated, isolated tumor cells (&lt;0.2 mm) appear to have no impact on survival while macro-metastasis (&gt;2 mm) are linked to a poorer prognosis. Alterations in the immune response in lymph nodes with large versus small metastases have been observed, but little is known about the relationship between the immune response in the primary tumor and the metastatic status of the corresponding lymph nodes. Methods We analyzed single-cell suspensions from primary tumors and lymph nodes of 38 patients with early, operable breast cancer enrolled in the OSLO2 clinical observational trial using mass cytometry with a 47- antibody immune panel (including PanKeratin and EpCAM). In total 3.7 million single cells were analyzed and clustered into 40 metaclusters using FlowSOM. A second set of 22 metastatic lymph nodes from the OSLO2 cohort was used to validate results form the metastatic tumor cells. Additionally, immunofluorescence with E-cadherin and PanKeratin was applied, and intensity measured in 4 metastatic lymph nodes and imaging mass-cytometry was applied on one metastatic lymph node Results We found that the immune microenvironment in primary tumor was dominated by CD4 and CD8 T cells, particularly of exhausted and memory phenotype and with a higher frequency of activated regulatory T cells (Treg). In contrast, the immune composition in lymph nodes was predominantly composed of naturally occurring naive B and T cells. Notably, in line with previous publications we observed a skewing towards memory and exhausted phenotype in T cells, along with increased abundance of activated Treg in lymph nodes with larger metastasis to those with smaller or no metastasis. Furthermore, there were no correlation between the immune profile in the primary tumor and corresponding lymph node. The immune profile in the primary tumor was influenced by tumor size, with larger tumors showing a higher frequency of activated Tregs and exhausted CD8 T cells. Furthermore, In situ analysis revealed that the microenvironment in smaller metastase had an mesenchymal phenotype, while larger tumor deposits exhibited a more epithelial-like phenotype. ConclusionThe immune profile of the primary tumor did not predict the immune profile or metastatic status of the corresponding lymph node. Tumor size in both primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes is the main drivers of changes in immune cell composition. Tumor cells from smaller metastases exhibited an mesenchymal phenotype, while larger metastasis displayed an epithelial phenotype.

Citation Format: Inga Hansine H. Rye, Marit Otterlei Fjørtoft, Inger Riise Bergheim, Karin Teien Lande, Kanutte H. Huse, June Helen H. Myklebust, Ole Christian H. Lingjærde, Øystein. Garred, Jon H. Lømo, Hege H. Russnes. Single cell analysis reveals tumor size-driven immune changes in primary breast tumors and corresponding lymph nodes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr C013.