Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2025
In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
Tumor-associated macrophages related signature in glioma
Lin-Jian Wang1,2,3, Yimeng Xue2, Yongli Lou3
1Advanced Medical Research Center of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China.
Background:
Glioma is the most common malignant primary tumor with a poor prognosis. Infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is a hallmark of glioma. However, the regulatory mechanism of TAMs and the prognostic value of related signature in glioma remain unclear.
Methods:
TAMs were analyzed by EPIC, MCPCOUNTER and XCELL methods in multiple cohorts, including the TCGA merged GBMLGG, CGGA mRNAseq-325, and CGGA mRNAseq-693. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) were performed to identify candidate hub genes that might be related to TAMs. The prognostic genes were selected by Univariate Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) multivariate Cox regression algorithm, and were used to construct a high efficacy prediction model.
Results:
Compared with LGG, TAMs of GBM in the TCGA merged GBMLGG, CGGA mRNAseq-693, and CGGA mRNAseq-325 cohorts were increased, and high TAMs levels predicted poorer overall survival for gliomas. The prediction model constructed by nine prognostic genes was highly efficient. The TAMs related risk-score was an independent risk factor for glioma. Moreover, high risk score was correlated with an increased population of TAMs in glioma, as well as the high immune scores, stromal scores and ESTIMATE scores.
Conclusions:
Increased TAMs might be an immune evasion mechanism of glioma. In addition, our findings suggested that TAMs-related signature was a valuable prognostic biomarker in glioma and provided therapeutic targets for glioma.
Insights
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are increased in glioblastoma (GBM) and predict poor glioma survival. A nine-gene signature effectively predicts prognosis and identifies potential therapeutic targets for glioma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genomics
Background:
- Glioma, a common malignant brain tumor, has a poor prognosis.
- Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration is characteristic of glioma.
- The regulatory mechanisms and prognostic significance of TAMs in glioma are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TAMs in glioma.
- To identify prognostic biomarkers related to TAMs.
- To develop a predictive model for glioma survival.
Main Methods:
- TAMs infiltration was quantified using EPIC, MCPCOUNTER, and XCELL.
- Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified TAMs-related hub genes.
- Prognostic genes were selected via Cox regression and LASSO, forming a prediction model.
Main Results:
- Higher TAMs levels were observed in GBM compared to LGG across multiple cohorts.
- Elevated TAMs correlated with poorer overall survival in glioma patients.
- A nine-gene signature demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with the TAMs-related risk-score serving as an independent prognostic factor.
Conclusions:
- Increased TAMs may contribute to glioma immune evasion.
- The TAMs-related signature is a valuable prognostic biomarker for glioma.
- This signature offers potential therapeutic targets for glioma treatment.
