Multiplex imaging of localized prostate tumors reveals changes in mast cell type composition and spatial organization of AR-positive cells in the tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Mapping spatial interactions of cancer, immune and stromal cells present novel opportunities for patient stratification and for advancing immunotherapy. While single-cell studies revealed significant molecular heterogeneity in prostate tumors, there is currently no understanding of how immune cell heterogeneity impacts spatial coordination between tumor and stromal cells in localized tumors. Here, we used cyclic immunofluorescent imaging on whole-tissue sections to uncover novel spatial associations between cancer and stromal cells in low- and high-grade prostate tumors and tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Our results provide a spatial map of 699,461 single-cells that show epigenetic and molecular differences in distinct clinical grades. We report unique populations of mast cells that differentially express CD44, CD90 and Granzyme B (GZMB) and demonstrate GZMB+ mast cells are spatially associated with M2 macrophages in prostate tumors. Finally, we uncover recurrent neighborhoods that are primarily driven by androgen receptor positive (AR+) stromal cells and identify transcriptional networks active in AR+ prostate stroma.