Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41043855›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2025

Targeting immunosuppressive macrophages by CSRP2-regulated CCL28 signaling sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to lenvatinib.

Changzhou Chen, Sheng Su, Pengcheng Wang, Xinming Ye, Songyang Yu, Yu Gong, Zehuan Li, Jia Li, Zhiqiang Hu, Xiaowu Huang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. 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

10 authors.

Changzhou ChenDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5396-3204
Sheng SuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Pengcheng WangDepartment of Gynecologic Oncology, Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xinming YeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Songyang YuDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Yu GongDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Zehuan LiDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Jia LiDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhiqiang HuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China huang.xiaowu@zs-hospital.sh.cn huzhiqiang924@sina.com.
Xiaowu HuangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai, China huang.xiaowu@zs-hospital.sh.cn huzhiqiang924@sina.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite comparable survival benefit has been obtained, the drug resistance remarkably reduced lenvatinib clinical efficacy. Here, we aimed to identify the potential mechanism by which cysteine and glycine-rich protein 2 (CSRP2) regulates the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and participates in the resistance to lenvatinib.

methodsWe harnessed RNA sequencing, multiplex immunofluorescence staining, and hydrodynamic tail vein (HTV) injection HCC model to systematically explore the function of CSRP2 in HCC progression. To precisely delineate how immunosuppressive macrophages, influenced by CSRP2-regulated C-C motif chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28) signaling, respond to lenvatinib-induced cytotoxicity, we established an in vitro co-culture system and conducted functional cytotoxicity assays.

resultsUsing RNA sequencing, multiplex immunofluorescence staining and HTV injection HCC mouse model, we identified CSRP2 as one of the most significantly upregulated genes in HCC tissues. CSRP2 overexpression drives anti-lenvatinib resistance by inducing high levels of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration and reshaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Then flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and chromatin immunoprecipitation were conducted to clarify the underlying mechanism of CSRP2. We showed CSRP2 promotes phosphorylation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) at Thr69/71, leading to the transcriptional activation of CCL28 expression. HCC-derived CCL28 recruits TAMs to drive immunosuppression and anti-lenvatinib tolerance. BI6901, a potent and selective CCR10 antagonist, blocked TAMs recruitment and enhanced T-cell activation. Combining CCR10 inhibition improved the therapeutic benefit of anti-lenvatinib in HCC.

conclusionsThese results illustrate that CSRP2 regulates the tumor microenvironment to promote HCC growth and drive lenvatinib tolerance via the CSRP2/ATF2/CCL28 axis. Targeting this pathway could synergize with lenvatinib to treat HCC more effectively.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularChemokines, CCLiver NeoplasmsMacrophagesPhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinesAnimalsCell Line, TumorHumansMaleMiceSignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentChemokines, CClenvatinibPhenylurea CompoundsQuinolinesHepatocellular CarcinomaMacrophageToleranceTumor Microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41043855
PMCPMC12496042

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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.