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Published on: September 15, 2023
Immune Cell Associations with Cancer Risk
Luis Palomero1, Ivan Galván-Femenía2, Rafael de Cid2
1ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia 08908, Spain.
Genetic variants influence immune cell composition in tissues, impacting cancer risk. Specific genes like SH2B3 and immune cell counts are linked to breast cancer development and diagnosis age.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Immune system function is crucial for cancer prevention.
- The relationship between cancer risk genetic variants and immune cell composition is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether genetic variants associated with cancer risk affect immune cell content in tissues.
- To explore the role of specific genes and immune cell counts in cancer development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 57 cancer risk loci for associations with immune and stromal cell content.
- Prediction of target gene expression and regulatory associations with immune features.
- Utilizing polygenic risk scores and a retrospective case-cohort study.
Main Results:
- Identified 57 cancer risk loci associated with immune/stromal cell differences.
- SH2B3 gene variants linked to immune cell alterations and breast cancer risk, including in BRCA1/2 carriers.
- Positive association found between blood counts (basophils, leukocytes, monocytes) and age at breast cancer diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Genetic variants play a role in shaping immune cell composition, influencing cancer risk.
- SH2B3 is a key gene linking immune alterations to malignancy risk.
- Immune cell counts may serve as biomarkers for cancer risk and diagnosis.
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