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Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
Published on: April 7, 2017
Reduced CCR2 Can Improve the Prognosis of Sarcoma by Remodeling the Tumor Microenvironment
Baixing Wei1, Hao Feng1, Han Wu1
1Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
Background:
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a very important role in the development of sarcoma (SARC), but it is still unknown how to effectively regulate the TME.
Aim:
Our study aims to identify core molecules that can concurrently regulate immune and stromal cells in TME as potential therapeutic targets.
Methods And Results:
We used the ESTIMATE algorithm to score the immune and stromal components of 265 SARC samples and determined that increased immune and stromal components in TME were both associated with poor prognosis in SARC. Next, we identified differential genes that regulate both immune and stromal cells, and identified the core prognostic gene CCR2 through the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, COX analysis, survival analysis, and GSEA enrichment analysis. Next, we calculated the content of infiltrating immune cells and stromal cells in tumors using the CIBERSORT and xcell algorithms, respectively. Using differential analysis and Spearman correlation analysis, we identified 12 immune cells and 7 stromal cells, including CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), Fibroblasts and Endothelial cells, all of which were regulated by CCR2.
Conclusion:
Increased immune and stromal cell components were associated with poor prognosis in SARC, and CCR2 had a prognostic role in TME, regulating multiple immune and stromal cells, and was an important target for TME remodeling as well as immunotherapy in SARC.
Insights
Researchers identified CCR2 as a key regulator of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in sarcoma (SARC). Targeting CCR2 may offer new therapeutic strategies for SARC by remodeling the TME and enhancing immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial in sarcoma (SARC) development.
- Effective regulation of the SARC TME remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify core molecules regulating both immune and stromal cells within the TME.
- Determine potential therapeutic targets for SARC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ESTIMATE algorithm to assess immune and stromal components in 265 SARC samples.
- Employed protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, COX, survival, and GSEA analyses to identify prognostic genes.
- Applied CIBERSORT and xcell algorithms to quantify immune and stromal cell infiltration.
Main Results:
- Increased immune and stromal components in the TME correlated with poor SARC prognosis.
- Identified CCR2 as a core prognostic gene regulating both immune and stromal cells.
- CCR2 was found to regulate 12 immune cell types and 7 stromal cell types, including key cells like CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, MSCs, and fibroblasts.
Conclusions:
- CCR2 plays a significant prognostic role in the SARC TME.
- CCR2 is a potential therapeutic target for TME remodeling and immunotherapy in SARC.
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