# Clinical potential and challenges of spatially profiling tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in early-stage breast cancer

**Authors:** David B. Page, Michael Simanonok, Douglas A. Hanes, Alan Su

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004979 · 2026-03-10

## TL;DR

This paper explores how mapping immune cell interactions in breast cancer tumors could help predict patient outcomes, but more validation is needed before it can be used in clinics.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the potential of spatial profiling as a novel predictive biomarker for early-stage breast cancer.

## Key findings

- Spatial profiling using multispectral immunofluorescence shows promise as a predictive biomarker.
- Prospective validation is required for clinical adoption of this technique.
- Harmonization with existing biomarkers is necessary for integration into clinical practice.

## Abstract

Digitally automated spatial profiling of immune-tumor cell interactions using multispectral immunofluorescence holds promise as a biomarker to predict outcomes in early-stage breast cancer, but prospective validation and harmonization with existing biomarkers is necessary before clinical adoption.

In this Perspective, David Page and colleagues discuss how spatially profiling immune-tumor cell interactions using multispectral immunofluorescence analyses holds promise as a biomarker to predict outcomes in early-stage breast cancer.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** breast cancer (MONDO:0004989)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NR4A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1) [NCBI Gene 3164] {aka GFRP1, HMR, N10, NAK-1, NGFIB, NP10}, PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 5133] {aka ADMIO4, AIMTBS, CD279, PD-1, PD1, SLEB2}, ERBB2 (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 2064] {aka CD340, HER-2, HER-2/neu, HER2, MLN 19, MLN-19}, CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 29126] {aka ADMIO5, B7-H, B7H1, PD-L1, PDCD1L1, PDCD1LG1}
- **Diseases:** adrenal failure (MESH:D051437), cancer (MESH:D009369), myositis (MESH:D009220), myocarditis (MESH:D009205), pneumonitis (MESH:D011014), toxicities (MESH:D064420), deaths (MESH:D003643), hypothyroidism (MESH:D007037), Breast Cancer (MESH:D001943), stage II/III triple-negative breast cancer (MESH:D064726)
- **Chemicals:** Pembrolizumab (MESH:C582435), NND (-), H&amp;E (MESH:D006371), durvalumab (MESH:C000613593)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12974881/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12974881