Hanahan & Weinberg (2011)
Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell 144:646–674. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013
View on DOISpatial Biology in Cancer: What UK Labs Need
Spatial biology keeps tissue context intact while measuring gene expression, protein location and cell–cell interactions. Cancer research especially needs this because the tumour microenvironment — immune cells, stroma, blood vessels and hypoxic regions — often determines drug response and outcome.
- Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) on tissue sections for 4–9+ protein markers
- Spatial transcriptomics to map RNA while preserving morphology
- Live 3D tissue models (organoids, tumoroids, explants) for dynamic assays
- Z-stack and deconvolution to resolve 3D structure in thick samples
Which EVOS for Which Cancer Spatial-Biology Task?
| Task | Recommended EVOS | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplex IF on FFPE/fresh-frozen tumour sections | EVOS S1000 | Up to 9-plex spectral fluorescence, slide-based, high-resolution optical quality |
| Live tumour organoid / tumoroid time-lapse | EVOS M7000 | On-stage incubation, automated multi-well acquisition, Z-stacking |
| Pre-clinical validation of 3D cancer models | EVOS M7000 | Confluence, transfection and counting analysis plus fluorescence imaging |
| Budget entry into tissue fluorescence | EVOS M5000 | 4-colour LED fluorescence and transmitted light for thinner sections or 2D cultures |
EVOS S1000 Spatial Imaging System
- Slide-based imaging for fixed tissue sections
- Multiplex spectral fluorescence up to 9 targets
- High-resolution LED fluorescence images without laser alignment
- Compatible with DAPI, GFP, RFP, Cy5 and additional spectral channels
- Designed for spatial proteomics and pathology-oriented research
EVOS M7000 Automated Imaging System
- Live-cell and live-tissue imaging with on-stage incubation
- Automated multi-well plate and slide scanning
- Four-colour fluorescence + transmitted light + Z-stacking
- Built-in confluence, transfection and cell-counting analysis
- Same UK service organisation as EVOS S1000 and CellInsight CX7
Selected Peer-Reviewed Cancer Spatial-Biology Papers
1. Single cell spatial transcriptomics track the evolutionary hierarchy and microenvironment remodeling during breast carcinoma invasion
Uses single-cell spatial transcriptomics to follow progression from ductal carcinoma in situ to invasive breast carcinoma, mapping tumour-immune neighbourhoods.
Read the paper on Nature Communications →
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 — validate protein-level spatial markers (e.g. immune checkpoint, stromal markers) on serial FFPE sections before or alongside transcriptomics panels.
2. High-definition spatial transcriptomic profiling of immune cell populations in colorectal cancer
High-resolution spatial transcriptomics of colorectal cancer immune microenvironments, revealing spatially organised immune cell states and their relation to tumour progression.
Read the paper on Nature Genetics →
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 — complementary 6–9 plex immunofluorescence of the same immune markers (CD3, CD8, CD68, PD-L1) to confirm transcript-level findings at protein level.
3. Spatially mapping the tumour immune microenvironments of non-small cell lung cancer
Multiplex immunofluorescence and image analysis map immune cell neighbourhoods in NSCLC, linking spatial organisation to clinical outcomes.
Read the paper on Nature Communications →
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 — direct workflow match for lung-cancer tissue mIF panels; EVOS M7000 for parallel 3D lung-cancer organoid assays under drug treatment.
4. Metabolic characterization of tumor-immune interactions by multiplexed immunofluorescence reveals spatial mechanisms of immunotherapy response in NSCLC
Combines multiplexed immunofluorescence with metabolic imaging to explain why some NSCLC tumours respond to immune-checkpoint inhibitors while others do not.
Read the paper on Nature Communications →
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 — the paper's 4+ marker mIF workflow maps cleanly onto the S1000's 9-plex spectral capability for NSCLC tissue studies.
5. Highly multiplexed 3D profiling of cell states and immune niches in human tumors
Presents a 3D multiplexed immunofluorescence pipeline that preserves whole-tissue architecture to profile cell states and immune niches across human tumours.
Read the paper on Nature Methods →
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 for 2D/3D-thick section panels; EVOS M7000 for live 3D tumouroid precursor cultures and drug-response validation before tissue-clearing 3D profiling.
6. Pathology-oriented multiplexing enables integrative disease mapping
Introduces a pathology-oriented multiplex imaging approach for integrative disease mapping across kidney and other tissues, emphasising protein location as a disease determinant.
EVOS fit: EVOS S1000 — the system's pathology-oriented 9-plex workflow directly supports similar integrative cancer-tissue mapping projects in UK labs.
7. A quantitative pipeline for whole-mount deep imaging and analysis of multi-layered organoids across scales
Although organoid-focused, the signal-correction and segmentation pipeline applies to multi-layered cancer tumoroids and 3D tissue models.
EVOS fit: EVOS M7000 — capture Z-stack time-lapse of live tumoroids feeding into the paper's downstream analysis pipeline.
Workflow Tips for Cancer Tissue Imaging
Multiplex panels to start with
- Nuclei: DAPI or Hoechst
- Tumour/epithelial: pan-CK or E-cadherin
- Immune: CD3, CD8, CD68, FOXP3
- Functional: PD-L1, Ki-67, CA9 (hypoxia)
Z-stacking for thick tissue
For sections>10 µm or cleared organoids/tumoroids, use 2–5 µm Z-steps. EVOS M7000 supports Z-stack acquisition for live 3D cultures; EVOS S1000 is designed for slide-based multiplex fluorescence imaging of tissue sections. Deeper whole-mount samples may still need light-sheet or confocal for best resolution.
Correlative spatial-omics
Use EVOS S1000 mIF to confirm transcriptomics findings at the protein level on adjacent sections, then use EVOS M7000 live imaging to test perturbations in 3D models before returning to tissue.
Related UK Guides
- Spatial Biology & Imaging Guide UK — overview of spatial transcriptomics and EVOS S1000
- EVOS M7000 Review — live-cell automated imaging
- EVOS S1000 Review — dedicated spatial tissue imager review
- EVOS M5000 Organoid & Tumoroid Imaging Workflow — 3D cancer model imaging
- Automated Cell Counting Microscope UK — cell counting for tissue dissociation and 3D models
- Best Microscope for Immunofluorescence UK — IF workflow fundamentals
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the EVOS S1000 be used for cancer spatial biology?
Yes. The EVOS S1000 Spatial Imaging System is designed for multiplexed fluorescence imaging of tissue slides, supporting up to 9-plex spectral unmixing. It fits cancer spatial-biology workflows that need medium-plex immunofluorescence panels of tumour and immune markers on FFPE or fresh-frozen sections without the capital cost of a full spatial-omics platform.
What is the difference between EVOS S1000 and EVOS M7000 for tissue imaging?
The EVOS S1000 is a slide-based tissue imager for multiplex immunofluorescence on fixed tissue sections. The EVOS M7000 is an inverted automated microscope for live-cell and live-tissue assays, Z-stack time-lapse, multi-well plates and confluence analysis. In a cancer spatial-biology lab they complement each other: S1000 for tissue-section panels, M7000 for live 3D cultures and pre-tissue model validation.
Are the papers in this guide studies that used EVOS hardware?
No. The papers above are independent peer-reviewed cancer spatial-biology studies that used a range of spatial transcriptomics, multiplex immunofluorescence and imaging platforms. We map each workflow to the EVOS S1000 or EVOS M7000 specifications so UK labs can choose an appropriate Thermo Fisher imaging workflow.
Recent Publications
Drost & Clevers (2018)
Organoids in cancer research. Nature Reviews Cancer 18:407–418. doi:10.1038/s41568-018-0007-6
View on DOISachs et al. (2019)
A living biobank of breast cancer organoids captures disease heterogeneity. Cell 172:373–386. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2017.11.010
View on DOIAlberts et al. (2022)
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 7th ed. W.W. Norton. doi:10.1201/9781003217356
View on DOIFrequently Asked Questions
What is spatial biology cancer imaging?
Mapping molecular features within intact tumour tissue to study heterogeneity and microenvironment.
How do EVOS S1000 and M7000 fit?
EVOS S1000 captures spatial fluorescence data; M7000 supports live-cell and 3D pre-processing.