Combined tumor-associated microbiome and immune gene expression profiling predict response to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery. A minority of patients show complete response (CR) to nCRT and may avoid surgery and its functional consequences. Instead, most patients show non-complete response (non-CR) and may benefit from additional treatments to increase CR rates. Reliable predictive markers are lacking. Aim of this study was to identify novel signatures predicting nCRT responsiveness. We performed a combined analysis of tumor-associated microbiome and immune gene expression profiling of diagnostic biopsies from 70 patients undergoing nCRT followed by rectal resection, including 16 with CR and 54 with non-CR. Findings were validated by an independent cohort of 49 patients, including 7 with CR and 42 with

SUBMITTER: Roesel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11853554 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature