The InSituPlex Staining Method for Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Cell Phenotyping and Spatial Profiling of Tumor FFPE Samples

Multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) enables the detection, quantification, and localization of many markers within cell or tissue samples, leading to a better understanding of the architecture of a disease at the cellular level. Current mIHC techniques involve long staining and assay times, require dedicated and/or captive instrumentation, and entail tedious assay optimization, hindering their establishment as routine methods. Here, we demonstrate the use of the InSituPlex method for spatial profiling of immuno-oncology targets in FFPE tumor tissue with the UltiMapper™ I/O PD-L1 multiplex assay. The panel consists of five protein markers to profile immune infiltration and PD-L1 expression and includes CD8, CD68, PD-L1, pan CK, and SOX10 markers. The assay shows benefits of high and low expression of markers, coexpression and colocalization of proteins in single cells, and completion of staining and image acquisition in 5.5 h. Through the combination of multiplexed characterization of protein expression in whole tissue sections, fast staining workflow, and compatibility with existing instrumentation, the InSituPlex method provides a robust modality for deep phenotyping of the tumor and its microenvironment.