Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Transforming growth factor β-activated protein kinase-1 (TAK1) plays an important role in MAPK and NFκB pathways and has been associated with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine how cytoplasmic and juxtanuclear punctate staining of TAK1 relates to immune checkpoint expression and cancer specific survival in colorectal cancer.Methods
Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from primary curative colorectal cancer resected specimens. Expression levels of cytoplasmic TAK1 by QuPath digital quantification and punctate TAK1 staining was scored using a manual point scoring technique and correlated with clinicopathological features, immune checkpoint expression and cancer-specific survival. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed in specimens to determine mutational profiles and differentially expressed genes.Results
A cohort of 875 patients who had undergone colorectal cancer resection were assessed for TAK1 expression. Higher levels of cytoplasmic TAK1 expression correlated with elevated PD1 and PD-L1 expression (p < 0.010). High punctate TAK1 expression was more commonly identified in poorly differentiated colorectal cancers (p = 0.036), had dysregulated mutational and transcriptional profiles with decreased insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF2) expression (p < 0.010), and independently predicted poor cancer-specific survival (HR 2.690, 95% CI 1.419-5.100, p = 0.002). The association of punctate TAK1 expression and recurrence remained after subgroup analysis for microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (p = 0.028).Discussion
Punctate TAK1 expression is associated with worse cancer specific survival. TAK1 signalling may be an important pathway to investigate underlying mechanisms for recurrence in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer.
SUBMITTER: Galbraith NJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11338118 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Galbraith Norman J NJ Quinn Jean A JA Al-Badran Sara Sf SS Pennel Kathryn A F KAF Hillson Lily V S LVS Hatthakarnkul Phimmada P McKenzie Molly M Maka Noori N Loi Lynette L Frixou Mikaela M Steele Colin W CW Roxburgh Campbell S CS Horgan Paul G PG McMillan Donald C DC Edwards Joanne J
Translational oncology 20240727
<h4>Background</h4>Transforming growth factor β-activated protein kinase-1 (TAK1) plays an important role in MAPK and NFκB pathways and has been associated with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine how cytoplasmic and juxtanuclear punctate staining of TAK1 relates to immune checkpoint expression and cancer specific survival in colorectal cancer.<h4>Methods</h4>Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from primary curative colorectal cance ...[more]