Pre-conference workshop: Akoya Biosciences

Phenoptics 2.0 with MOTiF
Enabling Better Spatial Biomarker Discovery

Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) assays have enabled the assessment of complex biological interactions between cellular phenotypes within their native microenvironments. However, regardless of plexing level, the quantitative analysis of mIF tissue sections and tumor microarrays is typically made challenging by the co-localization of signals of interest, by spectral cross-talk between fluorophores, and by the presence of autofluorescence. Whole Slide Multispectral Imaging (MOTiF) is a powerful imaging tool that address all of these challenges, permitting visualization, analysis, and accurate quantification of specific biomarkers on a per-cell basis, along with techniques that enable the phenotyping of an extremely wide variety of cell types in situ in solid tissue. What’s more, it enables the quantification of weakly expressing and overlapping biomarkers within cells and cellular compartments that cannot be identified using traditional imaging and analysis techniques, as well as the ability to isolate autofluorescence from desired signal. A growing body of work indicates that the use of multispectral unmixing in the analysis of mIF assays results in improved understanding of the underlying biology of disease and permits more accurate quantification of the relationships between specific cell types.

Takeaways:

1. The challenges associated with quantitative immunofluorescence in intact FFPE tissue sections and TMAs
2. A deep understanding of how multispectral unmixing isolates desired signal from background autofluorescence
3. The relationship between fluorophore plexing level and visualization of underlying biology within tissues
4. How phenotypic spatial metrics can enable better prediction of immunological therapeutic responses

Speakers

Daniel Eversole, PhD (Product Manager, Phenoptics Software, Akoya Biosciences)

Valeria Mezzano, MD, PhD (Research Scientist,  Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center)

Michael Surace, PhD (Scientist II, AstraZeneca) 

Dan Walker, (Product Manager, Phenoptics Instruments, Akoya Biosciences)

Linden Wyatt, PhD (Technical Application Scientist, Akoya Biosciences)