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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

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Tumor Microenvironment Properties are Associated With Low CD68-positive Cell Infiltration and Favorable Disease-free

Zhihua Gong1, Junying Chen1, Jia-Nan Cheng1

  • 1Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunotherapy, Chongqing, China.

Clinical Lung Cancer
|April 10, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as first-line treatment for lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations remains uncertain.
  • Tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics significantly influence ICI response.
  • Distinct TME properties between EGFR-mutant and wild-type lung adenocarcinomas are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differences in tumor-infiltrating immune cells based on EGFR mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma.
  • To characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME) landscape in relation to EGFR mutations.
  • To explore the prognostic implications of EGFR status in lung adenocarcinoma.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 105 surgically resected, treatment-naïve lung adenocarcinoma tissues (50 EGFR mutated, 55 EGFR wild-type) using immunohistochemistry.
  • Assessment of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and TME composition.
  • Utilized RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for 531 patients.

Main Results:

  • CD68-positive cell infiltration was higher in wild-type EGFR tumors compared to mutant EGFR tumors, correlating with lymph node invasion.
  • RNA-Seq analysis revealed elevated MMP9 and VEGFA levels in wild-type EGFR cases versus mutant EGFR cases.
  • EGFR mutation status was an independent predictor of favorable disease-free survival.

Conclusions:

  • CD68-positive cells are key discriminators of the tumor microenvironment (TME) between EGFR-mutant and wild-type lung adenocarcinoma.
  • Understanding TME differences based on EGFR status is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Keywords:
ImmunotherapyLymph node invasionMMPsTumor-associated macrophageVEGFA

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