Hyperspectral imaging system for multiplexed cancer marker detection: design and clinical evaluation.

SIGNIFICANCE: Multiplexed biomarker assessment is increasingly required in oncologic diagnostics, yet tissue depletion from sequential immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular testing limits routine pathology. Many multiplex immunofluorescence platforms rely on iterative staining or complex instrumentation, restricting scalability and clinical adoption.

AIM: The aim is to develop and clinically evaluate a hyperspectral multiplexed fluorescence imaging platform for simultaneous detection of multiple diagnostic biomarkers on a single formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue section potentially compatible with routine workflows.

APPROACH: A Fourier transform hyperspectral system incorporating a monolithic Sagnac interferometer was engineered for single-shot, full-spectrum acquisition without filter switching or iterative staining. A seven-biomarker lung cancer panel was applied in a single staining and imaging workflow, and custom spectral reconstruction and unmixing generated spatially resolved biomarker maps. Clinical performance was assessed retrospectively through blinded comparison with single-plex chromogenic IHC.

RESULTS

The system achieved submicron spatial resolution with minimal spectral cross-talk, enabling robust seven-channel imaging. Single-section analysis showed complete diagnostic concordance with reference IHC across the evaluated cohort of non-small cell lung cancer and other thoracic specimens and revealed biomarker co-localization, including tumor-associated PD-L1.

CONCLUSIONS

This platform enables high-content diagnostic profiling from a single FFPE tissue section while conserving tissue and preserving spatial information, supporting further evaluation of its potential integration into routine clinical pathology workflows.