Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation is associated with glucocorticoid secretion in adrenocortical carcinoma, but not directly with immune cell infiltration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), the response rate to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is only ~15%. Glucocorticoid (GC) secretion and the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway have been suggested to contribute to low tumour immune cell infiltration. The transcription factor lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF-1) transduces β-catenin (CTNNB1)-mediated transcriptional activation.

Objective

To understand the contribution of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signalling to the immunologically cold ACC tumour microenvironment.

Methods

Semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) of β-catenin (CTNNB1), LEF-1, GR and T cell markers CD3, CD4, CD8, Fox P3 in 59 ACC samples. Targeted RNA expression analysis of 354 imm

SUBMITTER: Maier T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11930824 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature