Analyzing the Spatial Distribution of Immune Cells in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

(1) Background: This study investigates the tumor immune microenvironment, focusing on immune cell distribution in lung adenocarcinoma. (2) Methods: We evaluated fifty cases of lung adenocarcinoma, and suitable areas for further studies were annotated on the histological slides. Two tumor cores per case were obtained, one from the tumor’s center and another from its periphery, and introduced into three paraffin receptor blocks for optimized processing efficiency. The 4-micrometer-thick tissue microarray sections were stained for H&E and for CD68, CD163, CD8, CD4, and PD-L1; (3) Results: Our investigation revealed significant correlations between PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and the presence of CD163+ macrophages, between CD4+ cells and CD8+, CD68+, and CD163+ cells, and also between CD8+ T cells and CD163+ cells. Additionally, while we observed some differences in cellular components and densities between the tumor center and periphery, these differences were not statistically significant. However, distinct correlations between PD-L1 and immune cells in these regions were identified, suggesting spatial heterogeneity in the immune landscape. (4) Conclusions: These results emphasize the intricate interactions between immune cells and tumor cells in lung adenocarcinoma. Understanding patient spatial immune profile could improve patient selection for immunotherapy, ensuring that those most likely to benefit are identified.