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Published on: March 14, 2019
Changes In Serum CXCL13 Levels Are Associated With Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing First-Line
Sara Cabrero-de Las Heras1, Xavier Hernández-Yagüe2, Andrea González3
1CARE program, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Carretera de Can Ruit, camí de les escoles s/n, Badalona 08916, Spain; ProCURE program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Campus Can Ruti, Carretera de Can Ruit camí de les escoles s/n, Badalona 08916, Spain.
CXCL13, a chemokine, shows promise as a biomarker for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Increased CXCL13 levels predict better treatment response and survival in patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) needs predictive biomarkers for chemotherapy.
- Oxaliplatin-based treatments are standard first-line therapy for mCRC.
- Current biomarkers for mCRC lack reliability in precision medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers for mCRC patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based treatment.
- To investigate the role of 11 CXC chemokines in predicting treatment response and survival.
- To explore the association between chemokine levels, tumor microenvironment, and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 104 mCRC patients were analyzed for 11 CXC chemokines using Luminex®.
- Nanostring® analysis of primary tumors assessed CXCL13 gene expression and immune profiles.
- In silico analysis of RNAseq data and deconvolution algorithms (MCP-counter) were used.
Main Results:
- Elevated CXCL13 serum levels at response evaluation correlated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
- CXCL13 gene expression in tumors associated with an immunogenic microenvironment, increased immune cells (B, CD8+ T cells), and longer OS.
- In silico and METIMMOX study data confirmed CXCL13's link to immune infiltration, OS, and Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLSs).
Conclusions:
- Increased serum CXCL13 is a potential predictive biomarker for oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy efficacy in mCRC.
- CXCL13's association with TLS formation suggests its role in therapeutic response.
- This chemokine offers a promising avenue for precision medicine in mCRC treatment.
