Landscape Analysis of CLDN18 Expression and Isoform Distribution in Solid Tumors: Insights From MONSTAR-SCREEN-2 Study.

ABSTRACT: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2), a tight junction protein isoform, is an emerging therapeutic target in oncology. CLDN18 is well-characterized in gastric cancer, but its pan-cancer expression profiles and isoform distributions are poorly documented. In the present study, we analyzed CLDN18 expression in patients with solid tumors enrolled in the MONSTAR-SCREEN-2 study using immunohistochemistry (IHC, n = 349) and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS, n = 2191). A splice junction analysis algorithm characterized isoform distribution patterns in WTS data and evaluated temporal changes using paired pre- and postchemotherapy specimens. IHC detected CLDN18.2 (≥ 40% of tumor cells showing any staining intensity) in 16.3% of patients, with highest prevalence in gastric (54.5%), biliary tract (21.7%), panc

SUBMITTER: Hashimoto T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12317400 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature