Abstract 3416
Background
Recent studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment plays a significant role in the progression of solid tumors. As an abundant component of the tumor microenvironment, cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to promote tumorigenesis and cancer aggressiveness, but their molecular characteristics remain poorly understood.
Methods
CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from freshly resected specimens from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). RNA sequence was performed to obtain gene expression profiles of CAFs and NFs. We analyzed the profiles and compared gene expression differences between CAFs and NFs. Moreover, immunohistochemistry, proliferation assay and migration assay were performed for evaluating function of the isolated genes.
Results
RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the gene sets related to the Wnt signaling pathway were highly expressed in CAFs, as well as TGFβ signaling, which is considered to be a regulator of CAFs. Among the components of this pathway, Wnt2 was specifically expressed. Thus, we performed immunohistochemical analysis on Wnt2 in 171 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Positive staining for Wnt2 was often observed in cancer stroma, although the immunoreactivity was negative or weak in cancer cells. Wnt2 expression in CAFs was significantly correlated with depth of tumor (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.044), TNM stage (P = 0.010), venous invasion (P < 0.001), liver metastasis (P = 0.045), and recurrence (P = 0.013). Subsequent in vitro analyses revealed that cancer cell invasion and migration were significantly decreased in a conditioned medium from immortalized CAFs transfected with siRNA targeting Wnt2.
Conclusions
The present study showed that Wnt2 expression in CAFs was significantly related to factors leading to tumor progression, such as depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis, as revealed by immunochemical examination. We also demonstrated that Wnt2 protein derived from CAFs induced cancer cell migration and invasion in CRC. These findings suggest that Wnt2 secreted by CAFs is a key role as a critical mediator in CRC progression and is a potential therapeutic target for CRC.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
2066 - Second-line (2L) real-world treatment (tx) patterns and outcomes in patients (pts) with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first line (1L) immuno-oncology (IO) monotherapy (mono tx)
Presenter: Denis Talbot
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5919 - Real-world effectiveness of nivolumab monotherapy after prior systemic therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United States
Presenter: David Stenehjem
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3368 - Pembrolizumab as first-line treatment in NSCLC with PD-L1 ≥50%: Real life results from an all-comer population
Presenter: Nikolaj Frost
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3775 - Patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer without molecular alterations or PD-L1 expression in Germany. Treatment and first outcome from the prospective German Registry Platform CRISP (AIO-TRK-0315)
Presenter: Frank Griesinger
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3926 - Impact of second-line (2L) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the treatment (Tx) of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a UK centre: a REAL-Oncology analysis from the I-O Optimise initiative
Presenter: Michael Snee
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5068 - First line pembrolizumab for NSCLC with PD-L1 TPS > 50% in a first French real life cohort
Presenter: Karim Amrane
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1182 - Interstitial lung disease induced by immune-checkpoint inhibitors correlates with prognosis of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients
Presenter: Teppei Sugano
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2297 - Phase II study to evaluate the peripheral blood mononuclear cell biomarker for nivolumab efficacy on previously treated non-small cell lung cancer subjects (NEJ029B: IMMUNITY-ONE)
Presenter: Yosuke Kawashima
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2739 - Efficacy and safety of nintedanib + docetaxel in lung adenocarcinoma patients (pts) following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs): Updated results of the ongoing non-interventional study (NIS) VARGADO (NCT02392455)
Presenter: Christian Grohe
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1357 - Upfront atezolizumab chemoimmunotherapy-associated Immune-related adverse events in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Francis Mogollon-Duffo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract