Proteomics of REPLICANT perfusate detects changes in the metastatic lymph node microenvironment.

ABSTRACT: In breast cancer (BC), detecting low volumes of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis pre-operatively is difficult and novel biomarkers are needed. We recently showed that patient-derived ALNs can be sustained ex-vivo using normothermic perfusion. We now compare reactive (tumour-free; n = 5) and macrometastatic (containing tumour deposits >2 mm; n = 4) ALNs by combining whole section multiplex immunofluorescence with TMT-labelled LC-MS/MS of the circulating perfusate. Macrometastases contained significantly fewer B cells and T cells (CD4⁺/CD8⁺/regulatory) than reactive nodes (p = 0.02). Similarly, pathway analysis of the perfusate proteome (119/1453 proteins significantly differentially expressed) showed that immune function was diminished in macrometastases in favour

SUBMITTER: Stevenson J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7935848 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature