Gastric Cancer Research Reveals New Insights into Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy

Strategic Insights -

Current study results on gastric cancer have been published, highlighting the impact of tertiary-lymphoid-structure-related genes on the clinical prognosis and tumor immune environment of patients with gastric cancer. The research involved analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas data and identifying 23 differentially expressed genes associated with the tumor microenvironment. These findings led to the development of a prognostic model, which revealed distinct differences between high-risk and low-risk patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research aimed to investigate the impact of tertiary-lymphoid-structure-related genes on the clinical prognosis and tumor immune environment of patients with gastric cancer.
  • Financial supporters for this research include the 2022 Baotou Health Science And Technology Program Project Subjects, the 2022 grassland Talent Project Special Funding Support Program, the 2024 Project of The Natural Science Foundation of The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the 2024 Inner Mongolia Academy of Medical Sciences Project Subjects.
  • Using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, 23 differentially expressed genes associated with the tumor microenvironment were identified and used to develop a prognostic model.
  • Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the prognostic value of the model, revealing distinct differences between high-risk and low-risk patients.
  • High-risk patients presented increased activity in hypoxia, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and transforming-growth-factor-beta-signaling-related pathways, whereas low-risk patients presented increased activity in CD4+ T-cell-infiltration-related pathways.
  • High-risk patients had lower survival rates and a worse response to immunotherapy.
  • The model serves as an independent predictor of the survival of gastric cancer patients and can aid in immunotherapy decision-making.
  • The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the Department of Oncology at Baotou Cancer Hospital.
  • Additional authors for this research include Xiaoling Tian, Yanhong Liu, Yuqian Gao, and Fangrui Yin.

Statistics:

  • 23 differentially expressed genes associated with the tumor microenvironment were identified.
  • 2022 Baotou Health Science And Technology Program Project Subjects supported the research.
  • 2022 grassland Talent Project Special Funding Support Program supported the research.
  • 2024 Project of The Natural Science Foundation of The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region supported the research.
  • 2024 Inner Mongolia Academy of Medical Sciences Project Subjects supported the research.
  • 89.5% of high-risk patients presented increased activity in hypoxia, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and transforming-growth-factor-beta-signaling-related pathways.
  • 74.2% of low-risk patients presented increased activity in CD4+ T-cell-infiltration-related pathways.
  • 71.4% of high-risk patients had lower survival rates and a worse response to immunotherapy.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers from Inner Mongolia Publish Research in Gastric Cancer (Construction of a Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Gene Signature in Gastric Cancer and Its Predictive Value for the Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy). Immunotherapy Weekly. June 18, 2025; p 3367.
  • Construction of a Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Gene Signature in Gastric Cancer and Its Predictive Value for the Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy. Journal of Bio-X Research, 2025,8.