Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40396420›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2025

AKR1B1 Expression in the Colorectal Tumor Microenvironment Contributes Towards Its Prognostic Significance.

Seçil Demirkol Canlı, Güneş Güner, Aynur Işık, Branka Sosic-Jurjevi, Aleksandra Djikic Rom, Esin Gülce Seza, Ömer Dizdar, Sandra Dragicevic, Aleksandra Nikolic, Aytekin Akyol and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

11 authors.

Seçil Demirkol CanlıDivision of Tumor Pathology, Department of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Institute, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0200-7962
Güneş GünerDepartment of Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkiye.
Aynur IşıkTransgenic Animal Technologies Research and Application Center, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2210-2329
Branka Sosic-JurjeviDepartment of Cytology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Aleksandra Djikic RomDepartment of Pathology, Pathohistology and Medical Cytology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Esin Gülce SezaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi, Ankara, Turkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0347-6931
Ömer DizdarDepartment of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkiye.
Sandra DragicevicGene Regulation in Cancer Group, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Aleksandra NikolicGene Regulation in Cancer Group, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Aytekin AkyolDepartment of Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkiye.
Sreeparna BanerjeeDepartment of Biological Sciences, Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi, Ankara, Turkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4596-6768

Funding

ODTÜ BAP ÇDAP-108-2020-10197Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia 451-03-136/2025-03/200007Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia 451-03-136/2025-03/200042Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu 220N427
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAKR1B1, a member of the aldo-keto reductase enzyme family involved in the polyol pathway of aldehyde metabolism, is aberrantly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous studies demonstrated that AKR1B1 knockdown reduced the motility and proliferation of CRC cell lines, and its elevated expression was correlated with increased mesenchymal marker expression, inflammation, and poor prognosis in CRC patient cohorts. However, whether stromal cells also express AKR1B1 and whether stromal expression can affect clinical outcomes has not been examined.

objectivesTo evaluate the expression of AKR1B1 within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC, with a paticular focus on stromal cells, and to assess its association with clinical outcomes.

methodsWe assessed AKR1B1 expression in colorectal tumors utilizing publicly available transcriptomic data from CRC tumors. Single-cell RNA-sequencing data from CRC samples were analyzed to determine cell type-specific expression. Immunohistochemistry based assessment of AKR1B1 expression was performed in Turkish and Serbian cohorts. Co-localization of AKR1B1 and CD163 (M2 macrophage marker) was evaluated by immunoflourescence.

resultsAKR1B1 was expressed in both the epithelial and stromal components of colorectal tumors, with higher expression observed in the stroma. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed AKR1B1 expression in myeloid cells, T and NK cells, B cells, dendritic cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. Notably, AKR1B1-expressing macrophages were predominantly of the M2 phenotype, and AKR1B1 expression and M2 marker expression showed strong positive correlation in bulk transcriptomic data. Immunofluorescence confirmed the colocalization of CD163 and AKR1B1 in stromal macrophages. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis of AKR1B1 expression in tumor stroma from a cohort of Turkish patients revealed that its expression was associated with favorable overall survival, particularly in tumors with higher stromal infiltration.

conclusionsOverall, our findings underscore the significant influence of the TME composition on the relationship between AKR1B1 expression and clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

Aldehyde ReductaseBiomarkers, TumorColorectal NeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentAgedAntigens, CDAntigens, Differentiation, MyelomonocyticCD163 AntigenFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisReceptors, Cell SurfaceStromal CellsAKR1B1 protein, humanAldehyde ReductaseAntigens, CDAntigens, Differentiation, MyelomonocyticBiomarkers, TumorCD163 AntigenReceptors, Cell SurfaceAKR1B1colorectal cancergene expressionprognosisstromatissue microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID40396420
PMCPMC12093151

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.