Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42298234›Full record

ArticleDiscover oncology2026

Screening and identification of key genes related to the immune microenvironment of rectal cancer influenced by radiotherapy based on bioinformatics methods.

Juan Fang, Rugang Zhao, Shanshan Wu, Juyi Wen, Xia Zhang, Junpeng Ma, Jingjiao Li, Lipin Gao, Yanbo Yu, Xiangfei Zhao

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. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Juan Fang *Department of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Rugang Zhao *Department of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Shanshan WuDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Juyi WenDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Xia ZhangDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Junpeng MaDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Jingjiao LiDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Lipin GaoDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Yanbo YuDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China.
Xiangfei ZhaoDepartment of Oncology, 5th medical center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Dongdajie 8th, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100853, China. Article1977@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveRadiotherapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the comprehensive treatment of rectal cancer. However, the impact of radiotherapy on the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially its effect on immune cell infiltration and immune-related gene expression, has not been fully studied. This study aims to screen and analyze key genes related to the immune microenvironment of rectal cancer influenced by radiotherapy based on bioinformatics methods for the purpose of identifying potential biomarkers and providing new insights for the personalized therapy of rectal cancer.

methodsUsing data from the Public Gene Expression Database (GEO) and the Cancer Genomics Database (TCGA), the impact of radiotherapy on the immune microenvironment of rectal cancer was explored using bioinformatics tools. Through screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs), correlation analysis, TIMER database analysis, immune infiltration score, and correlation analysis between key genes and prognosis, the effects of radiotherapy on the immune microenvironment of rectal cancer were investigated.

resultsTotally 7 upregulated and 4 downregulated differentially expressed genes were identified, among which MASP1, LTK, SLC9A3R2 were negatively correlated with myeloid suppressor cell infiltration (MDSCs), while ZP2 was positively correlated. The expression of MASP1 and SLC9A3R2 was closely related to the level of immune cell infiltration and played significant roles in the immune microenvironment. High expression of MASP1 was significantly correlated with survival benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, while SLC9A3R2 was closely related to the efficacy of PD-L1 inhibitors and CTLA4 inhibitors.

conclusionsMASP1 and SLC9A3R2, as two key genes that may be related to the immune microenvironment of rectal cancer radiotherapy, deserve further exploration of their roles in the mechanism. The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy holds promising prospects in the treatment of rectal cancer, and exploration of related mechanisms will provide new strategies and targets for the treatment of various tumors and rectal cancer.

Indexed as

BioinformaticsImmune microenvironmentMASP1RadiotherapyRectal cancerSLC9A3R2

Identifiers

PMID42298234
PMCPMC13550345

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