scholarly journals Establishment and Validation of a Genetic Label Associated With M2 Macrophage Infiltration to Predict Survival in Colon Cancer Patients and Assist Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyang Xu ◽  
Ziqi Peng ◽  
Guanyu Yan ◽  
Ningning Wang ◽  
Moye Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
M2 Macrophages ◽  
Hub Genes

Abstract Background: Colon cancer is a kind of malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Researchers have tried to interpret it from different perspectives and divide it into different subtypes in order to achieve individualized treatment. With the rise of immunotherapy, its value in the field of tumor has initially emerged. Based on the above background, from the perspective of immune infiltration, this study classified colon cancer according to the infiltration of M2 macrophages in patients with colon cancer and further explored it.Methods: Cibersort was used to analyze the level of immune cell infiltration in colon cancer patients in the TCGA database. WGCNA, Consensus Clustering analysis, Lasso analysis, and univariate KM analysis were used to screen and verify the hub genes associated with M2 macrophages. PCA was used to establish the M2 macrophage-related score—M2I Score. The correlation between M2I Score and somatic cell variation and microsatellite instability were analysed. Furthermore the correlation between M2 macrophage score and differences in immunotherapy sensitivity was also explored. Results: M2 macrophage infiltration was associated with poor prognosis. Four hub genes (ANKS4B, CTSD, TIMP1, and ZNF703) were selected as the progression-related genes associated with M2 macrophages. A stable and accurate M2I Score for M2 macrophages used in COAD was constructed based on four hub genes. M2I Score was positively correlated with tumor mutation load (TMB). The M2I Score of MSI-H group was higher than that of MSI-L group and MSS group. Combine with the TCIA database, we concluded that patients with a high M2I Score were more sensitive to PD-1 inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors combined with CTLA-4 inhibitors. The low rating group may have better efficacy without immune checkpoint inhibitors or with CTLA4 inhibitors alone.Conclusion: Four prognostic hub genes associated with M2 macrophages were screened to establish the M2I Score and divided the patients into two subgroups: high M2I Score group and low M2I Score group. TMB, microsatellite instability and sensitivity to immunotherapy were higher in the high-rated group. PD-1 inhibitors or PD-1 combined with CTLA-4 inhibitors are preferred for patients in the high-rated group who are more sensitive to immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Establishment and Validation of a Genetic Label Associated With M2 Macrophage Infiltration to Predict Survival in Patients With Colon Cancer and to Assist in Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyang Xu ◽  
Ziqi Peng ◽  
Guanyu Yan ◽  
Ningning Wang ◽  
Moye Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Consensus Clustering ◽  
M2 Macrophages ◽  
Hub Genes

BackgroundColon cancer is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Researchers have tried to interpret it from different perspectives and divided it into different subtypes to facilitate individualized treatment. With the rise in the use of immunotherapy, its value in the field of tumor has begun to emerge. From the perspective of immune infiltration, this study classified colon cancer according to the infiltration of M2 macrophages in patients with colon cancer and further explored the same.MethodsCibersort algorithm was used to analyze the level of immune cell infiltration in patients with colon cancer in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), Consensus Clustering analysis, Lasso analysis, and univariate Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to screen and verify the hub genes associated with M2 macrophages. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to establish the M2 macrophage-related score (M2I Score). The correlation between M2I Score and somatic cell variation and microsatellite instability (MSI) were analyzed. Furthermore, the correlation between M2 macrophage score and differences in immunotherapy sensitivity was also explored.ResultsM2 macrophage infiltration was associated with poor prognosis. Four hub genes (ANKS4B, CTSD, TIMP1, and ZNF703) were identified as the progression-related genes associated with M2 macrophages. A stable and accurate M2I Score for M2 macrophages used in colon adenocarcinoma was determined based on four hub genes. The M2I Score was positively correlated with the tumor mutation load (TMB). The M2I Score of the group with high instability of microsatellites was higher than that of the group with low instability of microsatellites and microsatellite-stable group. Combined with the Cancer Immunome Atlas database, we concluded that patients with high M2I Scores were more sensitive to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors combined with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors. The low-rating group may have better efficacy without immune checkpoint inhibitors or with CTLA4 inhibitors alone.ConclusionFour prognostic hub genes associated with M2 macrophages were screened to establish the M2I Score. Patients were divided into two subgroups: high M2I Score group and low M2I Score group. TMB, MSI, and sensitivity to immunotherapy were higher in the high-rated group. PD-1 inhibitors or PD-1 combined with CTLA-4 inhibitors are preferred for patients in the high-rated group who are more sensitive to immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Contribution of endothelial cell-derived transcriptomes to the colon cancer based on bioinformatics analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 7280-7300
Author(s):  
Jie Wang ◽  
◽  
Md. Nazim Uddin ◽  
Rehana Akter ◽  
Yun Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
Colon Tumor ◽  
Ppi Network ◽  
Hub Genes ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Immunosuppressive Cells

<abstract> <p>Colon tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) plays substantial roles to induce immune invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Thus, identification of the CTECs-derived transcriptomes could be helpful for colon cancer diagnosis and potential therapy. </p> <sec><title>Methods</title><p> By analysis of CTECs-derived gene expression profiling dataset, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CTECs and colon normal endothelial cells (CNECs). In addition, we identified the significant pathways and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network that was significantly associated with the DEGs. Furthermore, we identified hub genes whose expression was significantly associated with prognosis and immune cell infiltrations in colon cancer. Finally, we identified the significant correlations between the prognostic hub genes and immune-inhibitory markers in colon cancer. </p></sec> <sec><title>Results</title><p>We identified 362 DEGs in CTECs relative to the CNECs, including117 up-regulated genes and 245 down-regulated genes in the CTECs. In addition, we identified significantly up-regulated pathways in CTECs that were mainly involved in cancer and immune regulation. Furthermore, we identified hub genes (such as <italic>SPARC, COL1A1, COL1A2</italic> and <italic>IGFBP3</italic>) that are associated with prognosis and immune cells infiltrations in colon cancer. Interestingly, we found that prognosis-associated hub genes (<italic>SPARC, COL1A1, COL1A2</italic> and <italic>IGFBP3</italic>) are positively correlated with immune-inhibitory markers of various immunosuppressive cells, including TAM, M2 macrophage, Tregs and T cell exhaustion. Finally, our findings revealed that prognosis-associated upregulated hub genes are positively correlated with immune checkpoint markers, including PD-L1 and PD-L2 and the immunosuppressive markers including TGFB1 and TGFBR1.</p></sec> <sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>The identification of CTECs-specific transcriptomes may provide crucial insights into the colon tumor microenvironment that mediates the development of colon cancer.</p></sec> </abstract>

scholarly journals HOXC6 Promotes Metastasis of MSI-H CRC via Interacting with M2 Macrophages

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
lina qi ◽  
biting zhou ◽  
jiani chen ◽  
kailun xu ◽  
kailai wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
M2 Macrophages ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract Background: HOXC6 was the most significantly upregulated gene in right-sided colon cancer (RCC) compared to left-sided colon cancer (LCC) according to our previous study. It is known that RCC has a higher immunogenicity than LCC because much higher prevalence of MSI-H samples, however, the role of HOXC6 acted in MSI-H tumors remains poorly understood. Methods: Expression datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to analyze the differential expression and prognostic role of HOXC6 in CRC. ELISA and qRT-PCR were performed to examine the association of HOXC6 and CCL2. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to evaluate the correlation of HOXC6 and M2 macrophage infiltration. CCK8 and Transwell were used to evaluate the proliferation and migration of tumor cells in vitro.Results: HOXC6 was overexpressed in MSI-H CRC and associated with poor prognosis. Upregulation of CCL2 by HOXC6 could attract more M2 macrophage infiltration. IL6 secreted by M2 macrophages could induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells by upregulating HOXC6. Overexpression of HOXC6 promoted the migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro. Finally, inhibition of IL6/JAK pathway using ruxolitinib downregulated HOXC6 and suppressed invasion of HCT116 cells.Conclusion: Our study revealed that overexpression of HOXC6 attracted more M2 macrophage infiltration and the positive crosstalk between M2 macrophages and HOXC6-highly expressed tumor led to EMT and enhanced the migration ability of CRC, which offered a promising therapic target for treatment of MSI-H CRC.

scholarly journals Data Driven Mathematical Model of FOLFIRI Treatment for Colon Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2632
Author(s):  
Aparajita Budithi ◽  
Sumeyye Su ◽  
Arkadz Kirshtein ◽  
Leili Shahriyari
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
T Helper ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Cell Fractions

Many colon cancer patients show resistance to their treatments. Therefore, it is important to consider unique characteristic of each tumor to find the best treatment options for each patient. In this study, we develop a data driven mathematical model for interaction between the tumor microenvironment and FOLFIRI drug agents in colon cancer. Patients are divided into five distinct clusters based on their estimated immune cell fractions obtained from their primary tumors’ gene expression data. We then analyze the effects of drugs on cancer cells and immune cells in each group, and we observe different responses to the FOLFIRI drugs between patients in different immune groups. For instance, patients in cluster 3 with the highest T-reg/T-helper ratio respond better to the FOLFIRI treatment, while patients in cluster 2 with the lowest T-reg/T-helper ratio resist the treatment. Moreover, we use ROC curve to validate the model using the tumor status of the patients at their follow up, and the model predicts well for the earlier follow up days.

GDF15 expression in metastatic colorectal cancer.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 116-116
Author(s):  
Priya Jayachandran ◽  
Joanne Xiu ◽  
Shivani Soni ◽  
Richard M. Goldberg ◽  
Benjamin Adam Weinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Metastatic Colon Cancer ◽  
Genomic Alterations

116 Background: Cachexia affects many cancer patients. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a protein that regulates weight and the stress response of cells. The GDF15 gene encodes a ligand of TGF-beta that triggers cachexia and modulates the progression from tumorigenesis to metastasis. Inhibition of GDF15 with an antibody restored muscle mass and fat in animal models. Serum levels rise in proportion to the progression of colon cancer, predict outcome, and have been correlated with CEA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 7607 CRC tumors profiled by Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ) from 2019 to 2020. Profiling included whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq by NovoSeq). Tumor mutational burden, mismatch repair status, and pathway genomic alterations were evaluated. QuantiSEQ was used to assess immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. Results: GDF15 expression ranged from 0 to 593 transcripts per million (TPM) with median of 30 (IQR = 15.02). There was no association with age, sex, or primary tumor sidedness. MSI-H/dMMR tumors had higher GDF15 expression (median 37 vs 30, p = 0.0004); TMB > = 17 tumors was seen in 5.9% of bottom quartile (Q1) GDF15 expressors and 8.3% of top quartile (Q4). PDL1 IHC positivity was inversely correlated with GDF15 expression (7.1% in Q1 vs. 2.6% in Q4, p < 0.0001). Genomic alterations associated with higher GDF15 expression (Q4 vs Q1) included genes on TGF-B (SMAD2/4), PI3K (PIK3CA, MTOR), chromatin remodeling (ARID1A, KMT2C), DDR (ATM) and Wnt pathway (APC); those inversely associated included MYC CNA and TP53. Q1 tumors had higher CNA of ERBB2 and FGFR1. Relative neutrophils and NK cells in the TME increased from Q1 to Q4 (p < 0.001). There was a decrease in CD8+ T-cells and Treg cells from Q1 to Q4. Conclusions: GDF15 expression correlates with increased dMMR/MSI-H and TMB, but not with PDL1 expression. Mutations and activated pathways associated with GDF15 expression may explain increased cachexia with more aggressive disease. The association with chromatin remodeling may warrant therapies targeting histone modification and epigenetics. The increase in NK cells but decrease in CD8+ T cells in the TME with increasing GDF15 suggests approaches to treatment. Higher CD8+ lymphocyte counts correlate with PFS with immunotherapy. Anti-PD-L1 therapy reinvigorates the killing function of CD8+ T cells. The decrease in CD8+ T cells and PDL1 positivity with rising GDF15 suggests worse outcome and a lack of response to anti-PDL1 therapy. NK cell checkpoint inhibitors, CARs, and an anti-GFRAL antibody are now in clinical trials and might be utilized in high GDF15 cancers. GDF15 is emerging as a target in the treatment of obesity and cachexia and as a prognostic marker in oncology. Understanding its expression in metastatic colon cancer may reveal which patients could benefit from developing anti-GDF15 targeted therapies against cancer progression.

scholarly journals Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma induced M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages facilitate tumor growth and invasiveness

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Yuan ◽  
Zelong Lin ◽  
Yingjun Liu ◽  
Yuchuan Jiang ◽  
Ke Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma ◽  
Normal Liver ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
M2 Macrophages ◽  
Murine Models ◽  
Tumor Associated Macrophages ◽  
Stat3 Signaling

Abstract Background M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) have been shown to correlate with the progression of various cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, the interactions and mechanism between M2 macrophages and ICC are not completely clear. We aimed to clarify whether M2 macrophages promote the malignancy of ICC and its mechanism. Methods Two progressive murine models of ICC were used to evaluate the alterations in different macrophage populations and phenotypes. Furthermore, we assessed M2 macrophage infiltration in 48 human ICC and 15 normal liver samples. The protumor functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of M2 macrophages in ICC were investigated in an in vitro coculture system. Results We found that the number of M2 macrophages was significantly higher in ICC tissues than in normal bile ducts in the two murine models. M2 macrophage infiltration was highly increased in peritumoral compared with intratumoral regions and normal liver (p < 0.01). ICC cells induced macrophages to differentiate into the M2-TAM phenotype, and coculture with these M2 macrophages promoted ICC cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Mechanistically, M2-TAM-derived IL-10 promoted the malignant properties of ICC cells through STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, blockade of IL-10/STAT3 signaling partly rescued the effects of M2 macrophages on ICC. Conclusion Our results indicated that M2-polarized macrophages induced by ICC promote tumor growth and invasiveness through IL-10/STAT3-induced EMT and might be a potential therapeutic target for ICC.

scholarly journals The Prognostic Value of Microsatellite Instability, KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA Mutations in Stage II Colon Cancer Patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1038-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jeroen Vogelaar ◽  
Felice N. van Erning ◽  
Marlies S. Reimers ◽  
Hans van der Linden ◽  
Hans Pruijt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Prognostic Value ◽  
Stage Ii ◽  
Pik3ca Mutations ◽  
Stage Ii Colon Cancer

Oncogenic mutations in colorectal cancer, indications for anatomical sites, and targeted intervention.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e22037-e22037
Author(s):  
Giovanni Corso ◽  
Valeria Pascale ◽  
Giuseppe Flauti ◽  
Daniele Marrelli ◽  
Franco Roviello
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Left Colon ◽  
Targeted Intervention ◽  
Right Colon ◽  
Right Colon Cancer ◽  
Oncogenic Mutations ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Patients

e22037 Background: Oncogenic mutations, such as KRAS, in colorectal cancer patients are considered standard molecular biomarkers that predict the clinical benefit for the targeted intervention with EGFR inhibitors. In addition, these mutations are associated with specific anatomical area in the colon tumor development, as BRAF mutations with the microsatellite instability. Methods: In this translational study we aim to assess the mutation frequencies of the EGFR [hotspot area and polyadenine deletions (A13_del)], KRAS, BRAFV600E, and PIK3CA oncogenes in a series of 280 colorectal cancer patients. Microsatellite instability phenotype is considered in this series. All patients' clinicopathological data were considered for statistical analysis and associations. Results: In this study, we verified multiple associations between oncogenic mutations and specified clinicopathological tumor features. Respectively, we identified the following significant results: 1) EGFR A13_deletions are associated with right colon carcinoma (22.2% vs. 3.3%; p<0.005), mucinous histotype (16% vs. 7.8%; p=0.042), G3 grading (19% vs. 7.3%; p=0.024) and microsatellite instability status (p<0.005); 2) PIK3CA mutations are related mucinous histotype (12% vs. 4.4%; p=0.021) 3) KRASG12 and KRASG13mutations are correlated respectively with the left (91.4% vs. 59.3%) and right (40.7% vs. 8.6%) colon cancer development (p<0.005), and finally 4) microsatellite instability is associated with right colon tumors (28.4% vs. 5.5%; p<0.005). Conclusions: Mostly, we verified a high frequency rate of the KRASG13 and EGFR A13_del oncogene mutations in right colon cancer; whereas KRASG12 codon mutation occurs more frequently in left colon cancers. In particular, we assessed that right colon cancer is associated with specific molecular characteristics, in comparison to left colon tumors. These evidences, in association with specific clinicopathological data, can delineate novel approaches for the colorectal cancer classification and targeted intervention.

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