Conclusions
Targeted gene expression complements flow cytometry analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of FFX-Lipeg. Flow cytometry and targeted gene expression showed increases in neutrophils and monocytes after FFX-Lipeg. The number of lymphocytes is increased after treatment; nevertheless, their cell-specific gene expression levels are downregulated. This highlights that different techniques influence clinical discoveries. Therefore, it is important to carefully select the measurement technique used to study the effect of a treatment.
Material and methods
Whole-blood samples from 44 PDAC patients were collected at two time points: before the first FOLFIRINOX cycle and 14 days after the first cycle. EDTA blood tubes were used for multiplex flow cytometry analyses to quantify 18 immune cell populations and for complete blood count tests as the standard clinical routine. The flow cytometry data were analyzed with FlowJo software. In addition, Tempus blood tubes were used to isolate RNA and measure 1230 immune-related genes using NanoString Technology®. Data quality control, normalization, and analysis were performed using nSolver™ software and the Advanced Analysis module.
Methods
Whole-blood samples from 44 PDAC patients were collected at two time points: before the first FOLFIRINOX cycle and 14 days after the first cycle. EDTA blood tubes were used for multiplex flow cytometry analyses to quantify 18 immune cell populations and for complete blood count tests as the standard clinical routine. The flow cytometry data were analyzed with FlowJo software. In addition, Tempus blood tubes were used to isolate RNA and measure 1230 immune-related genes using NanoString Technology®. Data quality control, normalization, and analysis were performed using nSolver™ software and the Advanced Analysis module.
Results
FFX-Lipeg treatment increased the number of neutrophils and monocytes, as shown by flow cytometry and complete blood count in concordance with elevated gene expression measured via targeted gene expression profiling analysis. Interestingly, flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in the number of B and T cells after treatment, while targeted gene expression analysis showed a decrease in B and T cell-specific gene expression. Conclusions: Targeted gene expression complements flow cytometry analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of FFX-Lipeg. Flow cytometry and targeted gene expression showed increases in neutrophils and monocytes after FFX-Lipeg. The number of lymphocytes is increased after treatment; nevertheless, their cell-specific gene expression levels are downregulated. This highlights that different techniques influence clinical discoveries. Therefore, it is important to carefully select the measurement technique used to study the effect of a treatment.