Abstract 6624: 3D assessment of the lung cancer microenvironment using multi-resolution open-top light-sheet microscopy
Authors: Alvarsson Alexandra , Storey Carl , Pope Brandy Olin , Stoltzfus Caleb , Vierkant Robert , Tufariello Jessica , Bungum Aaron , Naso Julia , Chan Cheuk Ki , Edell Eric , Hartley Christopher , Reisenauer Janani , Reder Nicholas 
Published: June 2023

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue is a valuable resource for diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug development. Current 2D histopathological techniques introduce under-sampling error (i.e., a single 5 um section represents 0.5% of a 1 mm thick biopsy), interobserver variability, and fail to capture the biology contained within the entire tissue sample. We have developed a suite of technologies to stain, chemically clarify, image, visualize, and analyze entire intact NSCLC tissue samples.

Methods: Human NSCLC tissue, stored frozen in OCT, was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, stained with nuclear (TOPRO-3) and general protein (Eosin) fluorescent dyes, and optically cleared using a modified iDISCO protocol with ethyl cinnamate as the refractive index matching solution. Whole, intact tissue samples, roughly 1-5mm3 in volume, were imaged at 2 microns/pixel resolution with an open-top light-sheet microscope (3Di, Alpenglow Biosciences). Smaller regions of interest (ROIs) with key pathologic features were reimaged at higher resolution, 0.17 microns/pixel, to reveal subnuclear features and for cell typing. Visualization was performed using Aivia software.

Results: NSCLC tissue samples were successfully imaged in 3D. Low resolution images (2 microns/pixel) were obtained within 4-31 minutes, depending on the tissue volume. The 3D distribution of cancer cells, immune cells, vessels, and fibrosis varied substantially throughout the volume of the tissue. Recognizable histologic features, including nests of tumor cells surrounded by vasculature and immune cells, were readily visualized. Squamous and adenocarcinoma with its subtypes (solid, acinar, lepidic, and micropapillary) morphologies were recognizable in 2D optical sections of the 3D datasets. Imaging quality degraded in tissue deeper than 1 mm due to light scattering.

Conclusion: We assessed intact NSCLC tissue samples measuring up to 5 mm3 using our custom light-sheet microscope and tissue clearing techniques. This novel method enables us to visualize key features of NSCLC such as the tumor interfaces, tertiary lymphoid structures, vessels and fibrosis in the entire tissue sample, preventing under sampling error, and potentially enabling new biologic insights. Next steps include segmentation and quantification of key tissue structures such as tumor volume, immune cell distribution, and fibrosis/immune cell exclusion. This proof-of-concept study provides motivation for further investigation into the significance of 3D tissue features in NSCLC tissue samples.

Citation Format: Alexandra Alvarsson, Carl Storey, Brandy Olin Pope, Caleb Stoltzfus, Robert Vierkant, Jessica Tufariello, Aaron Bungum, Julia Naso, Cheuk Ki Chan, Eric Edell, Christopher Hartley, Janani Reisenauer, Nicholas Reder. 3D assessment of the lung cancer microenvironment using multi-resolution open-top light-sheet microscopy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6624.