Abstract 123P
Background
Incidence of sporadic early-onset colon cancer (EOCC) has increased worldwide. The molecular mechanisms in the tumor and the tumor microenvironment (TME) of EOCC as well as their clinical implications are not understood. The aim was to unravel unique spatial transcriptomic profiles in tumor epithelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of EOCC compared to late-onset colon cancer (LOCC).
Methods
Initially, 26 sporadic colon cancer (CC) tissue samples from 26 patients were assessed. CC patients received surgery at SJHC and did not have previous therapies, MSI-H, hereditary CC family history, or inflammatory bowel disease. Patients were grouped into EOCC (<50 yrs) and LOCC (≥50 yrs) and analyzed using NanoString GeoMx DSP (NGDSP) and HTG EdgeSeq PIP platforms. Validation cohorts of EOCC and LOCC with transcriptomic data and clinical annotations were assessed from CC TCGA database and GEO datasets. Bioinformatic analysis included CIBERSORTx and NicheNET.
Results
CAFs having fibroblast associated protein positive expression (FAP(+) were significantly enriched in EOCC compared to LOCC tumors. EOCC patients with higher FAP mRNA levels in CAFs had shorter Overall Survival (OS, p < 0.029) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS, p < 0.038). Spatial transcriptomic analysis using NGDSP demonstrated that FAP(+) CAFs at the EOCC tumor invasive margin (TIM) had significant upregulation of WNT signaling and higher levels of fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20). Tumor epithelial cells at TIM of EOCC tumors, neighboring FAP(+) CAFs, showed significantly higher levels of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2, p < 0.05) and PI3K/Akt signaling activation (p < 0.05). In-vitro assays showed FGF20 activates FGFR2-PI3K/Akt signaling in EOCC tumor cells.
Conclusions
High levels FAP(+) CAF in EOCC tumors represent a prognostic factor for DFS and OS. Comparing TIM, EOCC tumors had enhanced FAP(+) CAF cells with significant WNT signaling upregulation and increased FGF20 levels compared to LOCC. Conversely, tumor cells, neighboring FAP(+) CAFs, showed significant activation of FGFR2-PI3K/Akt signaling at the EOCC TIM.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
California Oncology Research Institute and the Stand-up to Cancer.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
472P - Risk of recurrence and optimal adjuvant treatment in invasive lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as radiological part-solid nodules
Presenter: Yang Wo
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
473P - Treatment (tx) patterns in resectable stage IA–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China: Subgroup analysis of a global real-world (rw) study
Presenter: Chih-Chi Yang
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
474P - The efficacy of image guided coil localisation for surgical resection of undiagnosed solitary lung nodule
Presenter: Jun Rey Leong
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
475P - 5-year overall survival and disease free survival outcome between lobectomy and segmentectomy for early stage lung cancer in a mixed Asian population
Presenter: Jianye Chen
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
478P - Peri-operative risks in curative lung resection of early stage primary lung cancer patients above 70 years old in a mixed Asian population
Presenter: Ian Goh
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
480P - Aumolertinib as adjuvant therapy for resectable stage I-III EGFR-mutant NSCLC: Also effective in EGFR co-mutation
Presenter: Lin Wu
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
481P - Comparative analysis of three NGS platforms assessing tumor mutational burden and mutational landscape in resectable non-small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Jii Bum Lee
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
482P - Prevalence of EGFR mutations (EGFRm) and its subtypes in patients (pts) with resected stage I-III NSCLC: Results from EARLY-EGFR Singapore cohort
Presenter: Puey Ling Chia
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
483P - Genetic profiles and evolutionary trajectory of early stage lung adenocarcinoma (AAH, AIS, MIA and IAC) revealed by multiplex sequecing
Presenter: lixuan lin
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract
484P - Treatment (tx) patterns and outcomes in resectable early-stage EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) NSCLC in South Korea: Subgroup analysis of a global real-world (rw) study
Presenter: Myung-Ju Ahn
Session: Poster Display
Resources:
Abstract