Dynamic modulation of claudin18.2 expression and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer during chemo-immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a tight junction protein retained in malignant transformation of gastric cancer (GC) and is a promising therapeutic target. Despite the clinical benefit of zolbetuximab in CLDN18.2-positive tumors, the dynamic expression of CLDN18.2 during chemoimmunotherapy and its implications in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remain poorly understood.

Methods

In a prospective single-arm phase II trial, we evaluated serial tumor biopsies from patients with advanced GC receiving first-line chemotherapy (capecitabine/oxaliplatin) with sequential pembrolizumab. CLDN18.2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and integrated molecular analyses-including whole transcriptome, whole exome, and single-cell RNA sequencing-were performed to explore TM

SUBMITTER: Lim SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12506464 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature