Novel biomarkers: the RUNX family as prognostic predictors in colorectal cancer

Yingting Liu; Yingting Liu; Yingting Liu; Junjun Chen; Junjun Chen; Junjun Chen; An Li; An Li; An Li; Yue Wu; Yue Wu; Yue Wu; Junwei Ge; Junwei Ge; Junwei Ge; Maoling Yuan; Maoling Yuan; Maoling Yuan; Bin Xu; Bin Xu; Bin Xu; Xiao Zheng; Xiao Zheng; Xiao Zheng; Lujun Chen; Lujun Chen; Lujun Chen; Jingting Jiang; Jingting Jiang; Jingting Jiang

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1430136

Frontiers in Immunology (Dec 2024)

Novel biomarkers: the RUNX family as prognostic predictors in colorectal cancer

Yingting Liu,
Yingting Liu,
Yingting Liu,
Junjun Chen,
Junjun Chen,
Junjun Chen,
An Li,
An Li,
An Li,
Yue Wu,
Yue Wu,
Yue Wu,
Junwei Ge,
Junwei Ge,
Junwei Ge,
Maoling Yuan,
Maoling Yuan,
Maoling Yuan,
Bin Xu,
Bin Xu,
Bin Xu,
Xiao Zheng,
Xiao Zheng,
Xiao Zheng,
Lujun Chen,
Lujun Chen,
Lujun Chen,
Jingting Jiang,
Jingting Jiang,
Jingting Jiang

Affiliations

Yingting Liu: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Yingting Liu: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Yingting Liu: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junjun Chen: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junjun Chen: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junjun Chen: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
An Li: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
An Li: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
An Li: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Yue Wu: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Yue Wu: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Yue Wu: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junwei Ge: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junwei Ge: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Junwei Ge: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Maoling Yuan: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Maoling Yuan: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Maoling Yuan: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Bin Xu: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Bin Xu: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Bin Xu: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Xiao Zheng: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Xiao Zheng: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Xiao Zheng: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Lujun Chen: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Lujun Chen: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Lujun Chen: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Jingting Jiang: Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Jingting Jiang: Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Tumor Immunotherapy, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Jingting Jiang: Institute of Cell Therapy, Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1430136
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15

Abstract

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While biomarkers have been shown to enhance the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to conventional treatments, there is a pressing need to discover novel biomarkers that can assist in assessing the prognostic impact of immunotherapy and in formulating individualized treatment plans. The RUNX family, consisting of RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3, has been recognized as crucial regulators in developmental processes, with dysregulation of these genes also being implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. In our present study, we demonstrated a crucial regulatory role of RUNX in CD8+T and CD103+CD8+T cell-mediated anti-tumor response within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of human CRC. Specifically, RUNXs were significantly differentially expressed between tumor and normal tissues in CRC. Patients with a greater proportion of infiltrating CD8+RUNX1+, CD103+CD8+RUNX1+, CD8+RUNX2+, CD103+CD8+RUNX2+, CD8+RUNX3+, or CD103+CD8+RUNX3+ T cells demonstrated improved outcomes compared to those with lower proportions. Additionally, the proportions of infiltrating CD8+RUNX1+T and CD8+RUNX3+T cells may serve as valuable prognostic predictors for CRC patients, independent of other clinicopathological factors. Moreover, further bioinformatic analysis conducted utilizing the TISIDB and TIMER platforms demonstrated significant associations between the members of the RUNX family and immune-infiltrating cells, specifically diverse subpopulations of CD8+TILs. Our study of human colorectal cancer tissue microarray (TMA) also revealed positive and statistically significant correlations between the expressions of RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3 in both CD8+T cells and CD103+CD8+T cells. Our study comprehensively revealed the varied expressions and prognostic importance of the RUNX family in human colorectal cancer tissues. It underscored their potential as vital biomarkers for prognostic evaluation in colorectal cancer patients and as promising targets for immunotherapy in treating this disease.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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