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
1269 - One-year follow-up results of eribulin for soft-tissue sarcoma including rare subtypes in a real-world observational study in Japan
Presenter: Shunji Takahashi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2868 - Prevalence of chemotherapy use and its impact on overall survival in patients with bone- and soft tissue sarcomas -A population-based analysis of 3746 patients
Presenter: Herbert Loong
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3042 - Clinical course and therapeutic management of classical and endemic Kaposi’s Sarcoma (C/E KS)
Presenter: Lina Benajiba
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3141 - The final outcomes of study on combined therapy of adult patients with localized synovial sarcoma
Presenter: Katarzyna Kozak
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5449 - Real-world Outcomes of Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Epithelioid Sarcoma
Presenter: Mrinal Gounder
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4465 - SAKK 57/16 Nab-Paclitaxel And Gemcitabine in soft tissue sarcoma (NAPAGE): results from the phase I part of a phase I/II trial
Presenter: Antonia Digklia
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5013 - Outcome of 98 patients with epithelioid sarcoma treated in curative intent: a retrospective study from the French Sarcoma Group (GSF-GETO)
Presenter: Maud Pedrono
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5614 - Comparison of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim prophylaxis in sarcoma patients receiving highly myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Presenter: Paolo Tarantino
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1033 - Access to clinical trials for soft tissue sarcoma patients in Western and Eastern Europe
Presenter: Vasilii Ostafiichuk
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4094 - Treatment outcomes for adult patients with localized osteosarcoma treated with chemotherapy without methotrexate
Presenter: Marília Silva
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract