Immunospatial tumor microenvironment analysis identifies B cell aggregates associated with recurrence-free survival in primary melanoma

Abstract

Abstract The complex spatial cellular interactions of immune cell populations within melanoma can provide insight into immune functions occurring within tumors. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and B cell aggregates (BssCAs) are key features in the immunospatial tumor microenvironment (isTIME), yet are difficult to accurately detect and are poorly understood in primary melanoma. This study utilized mIHC and novel spatial analysis methods to characterize the isTIME of primary melanomas to identify associations between T cells, B cells, NK cells, Langerhans cells and patient outcome. Spatial profiling of 55 primary melanomas identified that immune neighborhood metaclusters..