Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a heterogeneous group of malignancies that arise from the mucosal surfaces of the upper aerodigestive tract. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNC is characterized by the presence of immune cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix components. A key feature of the TME is hypoxia, which promotes tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis by altering the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, cell survival, and metabolism. Understanding the complex interplay between hypoxia and immune infiltrates in the TME of HNC is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this disease. Whole transcriptome analysis by digital spatial profiling is an excellent method of probing the TME, but assessing large cohorts can be time consuming. Automating a profiling workflow to reduce hands-on time and region of interest (ROI) selection bias will enable exploration of large cohorts to identify mechanisms of action, potential drug targets, and biomarkers.

Kelly Hunter¹, Joana Campos¹, Jack McMurray¹, Melanie Weigand¹, Ketaki Hardikar¹, Jeni Caldara², Regan Baird², David Mason², Kyla Teplitz³, James Mansfield², Hisham Mehanna⁴, Jill Brooks⁴

1. Propath, Hereford, UK
2. Visiopharm, Horsholm, Denmark
3. NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA
4. Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, U Birmingham, Birmingham, UK