Colon cancer remains an important global health concern, with a five-year survival rate of only 65%. Accurately characterising this cancer is essential for determining the most effective treatments and improving patient outcomes. The patterns of metastasis in colon cancer vary—some cancers spread through the lymph nodes, while others bypass the lymphatic vessels and spread through the venous system, causing metastases at distant sites. While these two pathways to metastasis are tied to the aggressiveness of the cancer, their mechanisms are not entirely understood, highlighting the need for precise identification to guide optimal patient care.
Traditionally, histopathology involves examining thin 2D slices of resected tissue under a microscope. However, advances in 3D histopathology now allow researchers to slice, scan, and digitally reconstruct tissue samples into detailed 3D models at the cellular level. Latest developments in laboratory phase-contrast micro-CT enable the non-intrusive 3D imaging of whole biopsy blocks at high resolution and with good contrast and preserve them for further analysis. Light-sheet microscopy, which has been successfully applied in other cancer studies, offers the potential to reveal complex 3D structures that may appear disorganised or random in traditional 2D imaging. This breakthrough could dramatically enhance our understanding and classification of colon cancer.
The aim of this project is to combine both 2D imaging methods, such as H&E histopathology and spatial transcriptomics, with 3D techniques like multiplexed light-sheet microscopy and micro-CT, to explore cancer aggressiveness and spread to the lymph nodes. This comprehensive approach promises to yield deeper insights into the biological mechanisms that drive progression and metastasis of colon cancer.
More info: https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/10000619