Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41483133›Full record

ArticleDiscover oncology2026

Integrative immunogenomic profiling identifies CALU as a brown adipocyte-linked modulator of progression and treatment response in pancreatic cancer.

Fang Wu, Xufan Cai, Zhenyuan Qian, Guangyuan Song, Xiao Zhang, Tao Ding, Weilang Xu, WeiLin Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover oncology, 2026. 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

8 authors.

Fang WuDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9432-2649
Xufan CaiThe First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Zhenyuan QianGeneral Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Guangyuan SongKey Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xiao ZhangKey Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Tao DingKey Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Weilang XuKey Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
WeiLin WangDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China. m15158905512@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

obgectivePancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal malignancy with limited therapeutic options. This study aimed to identify brown adipocyte-related genes (BARGs) influencing PDAC prognosis and explore their roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapy response.

methodsTranscriptomic and proteomic data from TCGA, GEO, ICGC, and CPTAC databases were analyzed to screen prognostic BARGs. Immune infiltration, immunotherapy prediction (via TIDE, IRnet, and TCIA), and drug sensitivity analyses were conducted. Single-cell RNA sequencing (CRA001160 dataset) and experimental validation (qPCR in pancreatic cancer cell lines) were performed to validate findings.

resultsCALU emerged as a core prognostic gene, significantly overexpressed in PDAC tissues and correlated with advanced tumor grade. High CALU expression was linked to stromal cell activation (e.g., cancer-associated fibroblasts, M1 macrophages) and suppressed T-cell infiltration, indicating immunosuppressive TME remodeling. CALU predicted resistance to CTLA4 inhibitors but showed no significant association with PD1 blockade. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed correlations between CALU and chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., TAK-715, LGK974). Single-cell analysis localized CALU to malignant and stromal cells, highlighting its role in PERIOSTIN-mediated fibroblast-malignant cell communication. Experimental validation confirmed elevated CALU expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines compared to normal cells.

conclusionCALU is a critical regulator of PDAC progression, influencing stromal-TME interactions and immune evasion. It serves as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, offering insights into combination strategies targeting stromal-immune crosstalk in PDAC.

Indexed as

CALUImmunotherapyPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)PrognosisTumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41483133
PMCPMC12847578

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.