The clinical features, prognostic significance, and immune heterogeneity of CD37 in diffuse gliomas
Xuejun Yan,
Quanwei Zhou,
Hecheng Zhu,
Weidong Liu,
Hongjuan Xu,
Wen Yin,
Ming Zhao,
Xingjun Jiang,
Caiping Ren
Affiliations
Xuejun Yan
Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
Quanwei Zhou
Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
Hecheng Zhu
Changsha Kexin Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410205, China
Weidong Liu
Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
Hongjuan Xu
Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
Wen Yin
Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
Ming Zhao
Changsha Kexin Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410205, China
Xingjun Jiang
Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Corresponding author
Caiping Ren
Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Diffuse glioma is the most prevalent and malignant brain tumor. The function and significance of CD37 in diffuse gliomas remain largely unknown. Here, we showed CD37 was abnormally expressed in diverse cancers, especially glioma by pan-cancer differential expression analysis. In addition, we found CD37 was upregulated in higher grade and IDH or IDH1-wildtype gliomas, which was further validated by qPCR and IHC. Survival analysis revealed CD37 served as an independent indicator for unfavorable prognosis of patients with diffuse gliomas. Functional enrichment analysis revealed CD37 was associated with immunological processes. Moreover, immune infiltration analyses suggested gliomas with high-expression CD37 had greater infiltration of M2 macrophages and neutrophils, and lower NK cell abundance. CD37 was closely correlated to immune checkpoint molecules, including CD276, CD80, CD86, and PD-L2. Our results indicated CD37 is an independent prognostic factor and plays an immunosuppressive role in diffuse gliomas. Targeting CD37 could be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for diffuse gliomas.
