MAPMET - Mapping metastatic cancer by multi-modal imaging

Metastasis to distant organs is the major cause of death in cancer patients. In many types of cancer metastasis occurs in the bone marrow, where normally cells of the immune system develop. Yet, very little is known about how these normal immune cells and tumor cells change when the latter metastasize to the bone marrow. In this study we investigate the cellular composition of bone marrow metastases in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. To learn more about changes in the tumor cells, we compare the variety of different (heterogeneous) tumor cells in the primary tumor with the bone marrow metastasis and how cells are altered during therapy. On the other hand, we investigate changes in the immune microenvironment in the metastatic bone marrow. To do so, we use a combination of methods that allow us to investigate tumor tissue at very high, i.e. single cell, resolution: automated fluorescence microscopy, imaging mass cytometry and RNA-sequencing. Deep learning algorithms will help to align the microscopy images and detect cells and biomarkers. This multi-disciplinary project will lead to a better understanding of metastasis in childhood cancers and is expected to improve diagnosis of affected patients.