Understanding the complexities of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is vital to advancing cancer research and developing novel therapies.1 The TME is a complex and dynamic space in which cellular and non-cellular components interact.2 Within the TME, tumour cells engage with a network of cancerous and non-cancerous cells and immune components, blood vessels, signaling molecules, and extracellular matrix to influence their behavior. TME factors can affect disease progression and determine cell survival and spread.
Sophisticated tissue analysis techniques, such as brightfield multiplexing can support the goal of advancing cancer research and developing novel therapies, by delivering deeper insights into the TME and providing novel data on a molecular level.3 Investing in brightfield multiplexing can help you advance your oncology lab for greater potential impact and our solutions can contribute towards therapeutic development.
Roche Diagnostics is a leader in brightfield chromogen technology. Offering gold-standard solutions for superior assay multiplexing, Roche are empowering scientists at the leading edge of TME research. Our high-throughput solutions, extensive range of chromogens and fluorophores, and unparalleled workflow support means Roche are positioned to support your next discovery and help to change the landscape of oncology in both the research and clinical lab.
Brightfield imaging is the simplest and most widely-used optical microscopy technique that can be found within a molecular lab. White light is used to illuminate a cross-sectional specimen, while light transmission is viewed from above.4 This method creates a striking visual contrast between the more optically dense and less optically dense structures within a tissue sample.
Brightfield microscopy techniques are commonly used to observe the physical shapes of cells and extracellular structures; however, non-specific brightfield assays provide limited information about the molecular composition of such components and therefore exhibits limited discovery power. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) can be incorporated into brightfield microscopy workflows to provide further information about the localisation and distribution of target proteins.3 This specialised technique, which uses antibodies tagged with chromogenic or fluorescent dyes, can detect specific proteins within a tissue sample and reveal clues about the molecular landscape of the TME.
Brightfield microscopy has long since been an established practice in both clinical and research labs. Clinical sample analysis by IHC must be compatible with existing brightfield workflows to maintain real-world relevance and impact potential.
Clinical tissue samples are often stained with non-specific dyes to reveal tissue architecture and aid in diagnoses. Two of the most commonly used stains include hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Hematoxylin – a dye derived from longwood – can be used to detect ribosomal and chromatin material, revealing stained components in deep purple colour.5 Eosin – a synthetic dye – can reveal cytoplasmic and connective tissue proteins in vibrant pinkish-red. H&E stains are viewed by brightfield methods; therefore, it is important that combined IHC workflows are also brightfield compatible.
Brightfield IHC in clinical samples can be conducted by either singleplex or multiplex assays. While singleplexing in brightfield IHC is already common clinical practice, multiplexing has remained a challenge.3 This is largely due to limitations in chromophore/fluorophore detection that, until recently, have prevented the integration of more complex multiplex analyses into clinically relevant research.
Today, higher-order multiplexing in clinical samples can finally be achieved using chromogenic detection systems and specialised detection software. This advancement allows scientists to explore the tumor microenvironment (TME) in a clinically relevant manner using more complex, multi-target assays that are difficult to analyse by human eye.
Roche Diagnostics is at the forefront of brightfield multiplexing innovation. Roche offers researchers a range of solutions that can be used to expedite and enhance clinical sample analyses through precise multiplex biomarker detection. Roche solutions can help to improve diagnostic accuracy and streamline research efficiency – accelerating your discovery processes.
Roche’s DISCOVERY ULTRA automated staining system represents the latest in specimen handling technology. Its compatibility with a wide range of assay types, along with programable sequential staining protocols, offers labs unparalleled flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency. The system is designed to support reproducible results, facilitate precise multiplex staining, and reduce manual errors, which can streamline lab workflows and potentially improve the quality of diagnostic and research outcomes.
DISCOVERY ULTRA utilises any combination of up to 8 distinct markers (including protein, DNA, RNA or micro-RNA) and automated denaturing/deactivation, to prevent cross reactivity and increase spatial resolution. In addition, Roche offer advanced reagents and detection options – such as the DISCOVERY ChromoMap kit range – that are both biotin-free and high fidelity, for enhanced specificity and compatibility with biotin-rich tissues such as brain, breast, liver or heart.
Roche offers workflow support. This includes hands-on training, protocol development, and ongoing technical assistance, ensuring that labs get the most out of their tissue workflows without costly delays or wasteful research downtime.
Developing a deeper understanding of the TME is essential to the advancement of cancer research; it can help both scientists and clinicians to understand the complexities of cell growth and spread, while supporting the development and analysis of cutting-edge therapeutics.
Brightfield multiplexing offers researchers unparalleled insights into the TME in workflows that are compatible with existing lab infrastructure. Roche’s state-of-the-art technology and unwavering technical support offer researchers the opportunity to advance the field of oncology while paving the way for more personalised and effective life-saving therapeutics.
