SYLARAS (SYstemic Lymphoid Architecture Response ASsessment)
Understanding how the immune system interacts with cancer is crucial for uncovering mechanisms of tumor-induced immune suppression and anti-tumor immune response. While studying immune dynamics within the local tumor microenvironment is essential, a more complete understanding of cancer immunology requires insights into peripheral immune responses. However, technologies to study multi-organ peripheral immune responses have been limited. SYLARAS addresses this gap by providing a robust platform for analyzing immune responses simultaneously, in multiple organs using preclinical model systems. Our innovative platform combines dissociative cytometry (standard flow or CyTOF) and/or multiplex tissue imaging (e.g., CyCIF, CODEX) with advanced computational analysis routines that transform complex immune response data into data-rich visual representations of immune cell frequency and function across lymphoid organs. By systematically assessing how immune system architecture changes in the presence of an immune perturbagen (such as a drug or tumor), SYLARAS can reveal mechanisms driving systemic immune responses to cancer and its therapies, offering a more holistic view of immuno-oncology.
Using SYLARAS, we have identified a novel population of CD45R/B220-expressing CD8+ T cells (B220T cells) in glioma brain tumors (Baker et al. Cell Systems 2020). These cells are emerging as a potential biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for these cancers due to their involvement in tumor surveillance and immune suppression. Ongoing research now aims to more fully elucidated the dynamics and functionality of B220T cells in glioma brain cancer.
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