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Updated: Jun 6, 2025
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Testing Cancer Immunotherapeutics in a Humanized Mouse Model Bearing Human Tumors
Published on: December 16, 2022
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Causal relationship between cancer and immune cell traits: A two-sample mendelian randomization study
Zejing Qiu1,2, Jingjing Fan1,2, Jun He1,2
1Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China.
Heliyon
|November 25, 2024
Summary
This study reveals significant causal links between various cancers and immune cell traits. Several immune traits influence multiple cancer types, offering new insights into cancer susceptibility and progression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Observational studies suggest correlations between cancer and the immune system.
- Prior research links immune traits to cancer predisposition, but systematic exploration is lacking.
- Causal associations between cancer and immune cell traits require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal association between five major cancer types and their subtypes with immune cell traits.
- To explore the directionality of these causal relationships using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR).
Main Methods:
- Utilized two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses with genetic instruments for breast, lung, endometrial, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
- Employed multivariable MR to adjust for potential pleiotropy.
- Obtained cancer and immune cell trait data from the IEU Open GWAS project.
Main Results:
- Identified numerous causal relationships: breast cancer (49 traits), endometrial cancer (38), lung cancer (25), prostate cancer (28), and ovarian cancer (19).
- Found shared immune traits influenced by multiple cancers, e.g., CD25 on IgD- CD38dim influenced by breast and lung cancer.
- Identified specific immune traits influencing cancer risk, such as HLA DR on plasmacytoid DC for breast and prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- The MR study highlights significant bidirectional relationships between immune traits and cancer.
- Revealed 14 immune traits influenced by multiple cancer types and 6 immune traits contributing to multiple cancers.
- Provides critical insights into the role of immune traits in cancer susceptibility and progression.
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