Genomic Correlates of Immune-Cell Infiltrates in Colorectal Carcinoma.

Cell Rep
Authors
Abstract

Large-scale genomic characterization of tumors from prospective cohort studies may yield new insights into cancer pathogenesis. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 619 incident colorectal cancers (CRCs) and integrated the results with tumor immunity, pathology, and survival data. We identified recurrently mutated genes in CRC, such as BCL9L, RBM10, CTCF, and KLF5, that were not previously appreciated in this disease. Furthermore, we investigated the genomic correlates of immune-cell infiltration and found that higher neoantigen load was positively associated with overall lymphocytic infiltration, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), memory T cells, and CRC-specific survival. The association with TILs was evident even within microsatellite-stable tumors. We also found positive selection of mutations in HLA genes and other components of the antigen-processing machinery in TIL-rich tumors. These results may inform immunotherapeutic approaches in CRC. More generally, this study demonstrates a framework for future integrative molecular epidemiology research in colorectal and other malignancies.

Year of Publication
2016
Journal
Cell Rep
Date Published
2016 Apr 14
ISSN
2211-1247
URL
DOI
10.1016/j.celrep.2016.03.075
PubMed ID
27149842
PubMed Central ID
PMC4850357
Links
Grant list
K07 CA148894 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
KL2 TR001100 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
R35 CA197735 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA118553 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54 HG003067 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
P01 CA087969 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P01 CA055075 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA151993 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA137178 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
K24 DK098311 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
UM1 CA186107 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA155010 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA169141 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
UM1 CA167552 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P50 CA127003 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
K07 CA190673 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
Additional Materials