We are pleased to share a new medRxiv preprint titled “Spatially informed comprehensive tumor transcriptomic profiling stratifies clinical outcomes in early triple negative breast cancer.” The study addresses a major challenge in early triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC): identifying biomarkers that can help distinguish patients according to their likely treatment response and long-term risk, while supporting future treatment escalation and de-escalation strategies. 

The key findings include:

1. Retrospective multicenter evaluation: Transcriptomic signatures were first developed using public gene-expression datasets and subsequently evaluated with the Multiplex8+ platform in a real-world, multicenter, retrospective cohort of 590 patients with eTNBC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with or without immunotherapy.

2. Association with response and prognosis: The Multiplex8+ signatures were associated with both response to neoadjuvant treatment and prognosis, including recurrence-related outcomes. These associations remained highly significant in multivariable analyses incorporating established clinical parameters.

3. Complementary biological information: The signatures provided information complementary to established biomarkers, including stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, suggesting that spatially informed whole-transcriptome profiling may provide additional insight into clinically relevant differences in tumor biology.

Multiplex8+ uses H&E and multiplexed RNA-FISH to guide the selection of defined tumor regions for whole-transcriptome sequencing and signature analysis. By preserving spatial context while examining broad gene-expression patterns, the platform enables a more detailed assessment of tumor biology and heterogeneity.

These findings support the prospective evaluation of the signatures in risk-stratified clinical trials. The long-term objective is to contribute to future treatment strategies that achieve a better balance between efficacy, toxicity, cost and access to therapy.

This manuscript is currently available as a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review.

For more information about this study and our ongoing research initiatives, please visit our website www.multiplexdx.com or contact us at info@multiplexdx.com. 

Read the full preprint here: Spatially informed comprehensive tumor transcriptomic profiling stratifies clinical outcomes in early triple negative breast cancer | medRxiv