In the last two decades, the central role of the body's own immune defense system in cancer development has become increasingly clear, and one of the recent breakthroughs in cancer treatment has been the development of immunotherapies that boost the immune response. However, the results of clinical trials in pancreatic cancer have been disappointing. One possible reason for this is the presence of immune-suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment that dampen T-cell reactivity.
Our study aims to understand the immunology of pancreatic cancer and its surrounding stroma through histopathological analysis. By gaining a deeper understanding of the immunology of cancer, we can develop new potential therapeutic targets that may improve patient outcomes and prognosis. The study material used in this research project consists of paraffin blocks from surgical specimens collected at the Oulu University Hospital. The data is part of the national FinHPB cohort and will be used to investigate the immunology of pancreatic cancer and its surrounding stroma through histopathological methods.
The methods used in this study include standard and multiplex immunohistochemistry, spatial analysis, and morphological evaluation with deep learning. These methods allow for the precise analysis of the tumor microenvironment and the identification of immune cell subsets and their spatial distribution. The deep learning algorithms applied to morphological data aid in the identification of complex cellular structures that may be missed by traditional manual methods.
Join us in our effort to advance the field of pancreatic cancer research by participating in our histopathological studies. Contact us to learn more about how you can contribute to this important research project.
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