Abstract 3533: Integrative spatial profiling of protein and chromosomal alterations across normal, precancer, and cancer revealed the presence of aneuploidy in the normal fallopian tube

Abstract Introduction: Simultaneous measurement of protein expression and chromosomal alterations within the same FFPE section enables direct analysis of clonal selection and disease progression from normal epithelium through precancerous to cancerous states. We developed a unified workflow based on the one-shot Orion multiplexed imaging platform (Lin et al., Nature Cancer 2023) that integrates high-dimensional protein imaging with a conventional DNA-FISH assay for in situ detection of chromosomal copy number alterations (CNAs). Traditional DNA-FISH, although widely used in diagnostic practice, requires protease digestion and permeabilization steps that destroy antigen epitopes and distort nuclear morphology, preventing reliable protein detection and limiting integration with immunofluorescence. The challenge spans both normal precursor and malignant tissues, where densely packed or overlapping nuclei complicate single-cell CNA scoring - an issue that is now particularly relevant, given the growing recognition that aneuploidy can arise even in morphologically normal epithelia. Method: Recent advances in multiplexed imaging now enable phenotypic characterization of individual cells harboring CNAs, a capability previously unattainable with conventional immunofluorescence. To realize this potential, we optimized fixation, hybridization, and imaging parameters to preserve both antigenicity and nuclear architecture while maintaining robust CNA detection. The resulting ORION-FISH workflow enables simultaneous visualization and quantification of protein states and chromosomal alterations within the same section. Results: We have found that normal fallopian tube epithelium harbors MYC and/or CCNE1, both of which are common CNAs in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) and its precursor lesion, Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC). We have also found that these aneuploid cells may have been under strong negative selection pressure, partially due to strong immune surveillance. Currently, we are analyzing in depth precursor samples and HGSOC specimens that will be presented at the meeting. Conclusion: We applied ORION-FISH approach to HGSOC and its precursors to generate spatial maps of aneuploidy and cell states across the normal-precancer-cancer continuum, establishing a foundation for our studies in the HGSOC Pre-Cancer Atlas 2.0. Citation Format: Tanjina Kader, Yu-An Chen, Clemens Hug, Jia-Ren Lin, Jeremy Muhlich, Euihye Jung, Charles Drescher, Ronny I. Drapkin, Peter Karl Sorger, Sandro Santagata. Integrative spatial profiling of protein and chromosomal alterations across normal, precancer, and cancer revealed the presence of aneuploidy in the normal fallopian tube [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3533.

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Journal
Cancer Research
Published
2026-04-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-3533
Primary Topic
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
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article
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article

Abstract 3533: Integrative spatial profiling of protein and chromosomal alterations across normal, precancer, and cancer revealed the presence of aneuploidy in the normal fallopian tube

Jeremy L. Muhlich, Sandro Santagata, Tanjina Kader, Charles W. Drescher et al.
Cancer Research
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
article

Abstract 3533: Integrative spatial profiling of protein and chromosomal alterations across normal, precancer, and cancer revealed the presence of aneuploidy in the normal fallopian tube

Jeremy L. Muhlich, Sandro Santagata, Tanjina Kader, Charles W. Drescher, Ronny Drapkin, Euihye Jung, Jia-Ren Lin, Peter Karl Sorger, Clemens Hug, Yu-An Chen
article en

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Simultaneous measurement of protein expression and chromosomal alterations within the same FFPE section enables direct analysis of clonal selection and disease progression from normal epithelium through precancerous to cancerous states. We developed a unified workflow based on the one-shot Orion multiplexed imaging platform (Lin et al., Nature Cancer 2023) that integrates high-dimensional protein imaging with a conventional DNA-FISH assay for in situ detection of chromosomal copy number alterations (CNAs). Traditional DNA-FISH, although widely used in diagnostic practice, requires protease digestion and permeabilization steps that destroy antigen epitopes and distort nuclear morphology, preventing reliable protein detection and limiting integration with immunofluorescence. The challenge spans both normal precursor and malignant tissues, where densely packed or overlapping nuclei complicate single-cell CNA scoring - an issue that is now particularly relevant, given the growing recognition that aneuploidy can arise even in morphologically normal epithelia. Method: Recent advances in multiplexed imaging now enable phenotypic characterization of individual cells harboring CNAs, a capability previously unattainable with conventional immunofluorescence. To realize this potential, we optimized fixation, hybridization, and imaging parameters to preserve both antigenicity and nuclear architecture while maintaining robust CNA detection. The resulting ORION-FISH workflow enables simultaneous visualization and quantification of protein states and chromosomal alterations within the same section. Results: We have found that normal fallopian tube epithelium harbors MYC and/or CCNE1, both of which are common CNAs in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) and its precursor lesion, Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC). We have also found that these aneuploid cells may have been under strong negative selection pressure, partially due to strong immune surveillance. Currently, we are analyzing in depth precursor samples and HGSOC specimens that will be presented at the meeting. Conclusion: We applied ORION-FISH approach to HGSOC and its precursors to generate spatial maps of aneuploidy and cell states across the normal-precancer-cancer continuum, establishing a foundation for our studies in the HGSOC Pre-Cancer Atlas 2.0. Citation Format: Tanjina Kader, Yu-An Chen, Clemens Hug, Jia-Ren Lin, Jeremy Muhlich, Euihye Jung, Charles Drescher, Ronny I. Drapkin, Peter Karl Sorger, Sandro Santagata. Integrative spatial profiling of protein and chromosomal alterations across normal, precancer, and cancer revealed the presence of aneuploidy in the normal fallopian tube [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3533.

Cancer ResearchVol. 86(7_Supplement)
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US), Harvard University (US), Merseburg University of Applied Sciences (DE), Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US), Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (US), University of Pennsylvania (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
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