Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39623187›Full record

ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2025

Fibroblast Activation Protein-α Expression in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Shows the Poor Survival of Colorectal Cancer via Immune-Mediated Pathways : Implications of FAP in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Link Immune Dysregulation to Adverse Survival in Colorectal Cancer.

Yubo Qin, Toru Miyake, Keiji Muramoto, Takeru Maekawa, Yusuke Nishina, Ying Wang, Tomoharu Shimizu, Masaji Tani

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Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yubo QinDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Toru MiyakeDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan. myk@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
Keiji MuramotoDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Takeru MaekawaDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Yusuke NishinaDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Ying WangDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Tomoharu ShimizuDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
Masaji TaniDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.

Funding

Kaken 20K09005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cells, the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play critical roles in oncogenesis. Despite the recognized function of fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP), a specific biomarker of CAFs in cancer progression, its role in the survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains unclear.

methodsWe investigated 180 pathological sections obtained from 178 consecutive patients with CRC who underwent surgical resection at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015. FAP expression levels and CD3 and CD8 densities at the invasive margin and center of tumor were assessed using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Furthermore, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of CAFs in a separate cohort of 10 untreated patients with CRC derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

resultsAccording to IHC evaluation, high FAP expression in patients with CRC showed a correlation with reduced tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) distribution and poor survival. Based on the FAP transcription levels obtained through scRNA-seq analysis, CAFs were grouped into high and low FAP expression groups. Elevated FAP expression was correlated with decreased expression of T- and B-cell biomarkers, suggesting an association with an immunosuppressive TME promotion. Several genes associated with cancer-related immune-mediated pathways (CXCL12, COL11A1, CCL11, and COL10A1) were significantly upregulated in FAP-positive CAFs.

conclusionsThis study highlights the effects of FAP expression on survival of patients with CRC, its interaction with TILs, and relevant signaling pathways, and underscores potential immunotherapeutic targets for future investigation.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCancer-Associated FibroblastsColorectal NeoplasmsGelatinasesLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMembrane ProteinsSerine EndopeptidasesAgedEndopeptidasesFemaleFibroblast Activation Protein AlphaFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorEndopeptidasesFibroblast Activation Protein AlphaGelatinasesMembrane ProteinsSerine EndopeptidasesCancer-associated fibroblastsColorectal cancerFibroblast activation protein-αInvasive marginTumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Identifiers

PMID39623187

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.