Tad George, Senior VP of R&D at RareCyte, delivered a presentation on advancements in spatial biology and the company's innovative Orion system designed for high-plex imaging of tissue samples. George introduced RareCyte as a high-tech engineering company focused on imaging and biopsy technologies, providing instruments and reagents for liquid biopsies and tissue analysis.
The Orion system is a powerful tool for high-plex imaging, allowing researchers to analyse up to 20 channels in a single round, which was essential for translational studies requiring detailed information about tissue microenvironments. George explained that traditional scanning technology faced challenges in doing translational work at high plex, but the Orion system overcame these barriers by enabling 20-channel IHC level work in a single round. The technology is fast, cost-effective, and capable of generating high-quality data, making it suitable for processing hundreds of samples efficiently.
George presented case studies demonstrating the application of the Orion system in colorectal cancer research. One study showed how the system visualised immune responses and improved prognostic evaluations by analysing pretreatment biopsies and post-treatment surgical resections. Another case study from Harvard involved a large colorectal cancer cohort, where the Orion system processed resections with a 17-plex panel and identified marker combinations that outperformed the gold standard immunoscore in terms of prognostics.
Furthermore, the Orion demonstrates flexibility in creating custom panels for various applications. Researchers could incorporate specific biomarkers relevant to their studies, and the system offered easy labelling and validation processes. George also discussed the importance of high-resolution, high-quality data, complete spatial context, and sufficient plex for deriving actionable information. Orion has been validated against traditional methods, showing improved sensitivity and reproducibility in biomarker detection across different operators and instruments.
Orion is a robust technology for spatial biology, providing rapid, cost-effective, and high-quality imaging solutions for translational research. The system's ability to process large cohorts and generate quantitative data was highlighted as a major strength, making it a valuable tool for advancing cancer research and other applications.
