This study explored the spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using imaging mass cytometry and genomic data from the TRACERx 100 cohort. Researchers identified four TME subtypes, including a neutrophil-rich type associated with poorer clinical outcomes and metastasis. The study also found associations between spatial TME features, neoantigen burden, and immune evasion mechanisms.

The study received funding support from Bristol-Myers Squibb as part of a research collaboration. Several authors also disclose various industry relationships, including consulting, advisory roles, grants, and other support from pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Roche, Takeda, Amgen, and others. These relationships raise potential conflicts of interest related to the study design, data interpretation, and conclusions.

This is a well-conducted study leveraging a large, clinically well-defined cohort with multi-omics data to gain insights into the spatial TME architecture in NSCLC. The integration of IMC, genomic, and transcriptomic data along with clinical outcomes makes it valuable. Despite some limitations regarding sample size for certain analyses, the overall methodology is robust. The identified associations with neoantigen burden, immune evasion, and clinical outcomes are important contributions to the field. However, the disclosed funding and industry relationships require careful consideration when interpreting the results.