Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42298513›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

Clinicopathological features and immune checkpoint expression patterns in dMMR early gastric cancer: a retrospective pilot study.

Yusaku Yokotani, Naoyuki Sakamoto, Mikiko Matsuo, Yuki Nakahata, Haruka Okuyama, Rieko Mukai, Junji Nagano, Akihiro Obora, Yoshiki Murakami, Takao Kojima and 1 more

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Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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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

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Yusaku YokotaniDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan. yokotani0115@gmail.com.
Naoyuki SakamotoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Mikiko MatsuoDepartment of Pathology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Yuki NakahataDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Haruka OkuyamaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Rieko MukaiDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Junji NaganoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Akihiro OboraDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Yoshiki MurakamiDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Takao KojimaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
Nobuaki YagiDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asahi University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite and instability-high (MSI-H) status is recognized as a biomarker that predicts the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the efficacy of ICIs treatment is still insufficient. Accordingly, insights into the mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICIs in gastrointestinal cancers are necessary, and developing immunotherapeutic strategies to improve response rates is an urgent clinical priority. We investigated the clinical characteristics of dMMR/MSI-H early gastric cancer and analyzed the expression patterns of immune checkpoint molecules within the tumor microenvironment.

methodA total of 20 cases of early gastric cancer, treated between November 2019 and July 2024, were included. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of mismatch repair (MMR) protein, and patient clinical characteristics were evaluated. Additionally, among the eight cases identified as dMMR early gastric cancer, they were further examined for the expression of immune checkpoint molecules in the tumor microenvironment using immunohistochemical staining.

resultThe median age of patients diagnosed with dMMR early gastric cancer was 73 years. In 20 patients, female sex and severe atrophy were associated with dMMR status in univariate analysis (OR 7.67, 95% CI 1.04-94.53). The expression pattern of immune checkpoint molecules showed heterogeneity.

conclusionThese findings highlight the heterogeneity of immune checkpoint expression patterns and provide preliminary, hypothesis-generating insights into variability in response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

Indexed as

DNA Mismatch RepairImmune Checkpoint ProteinsStomach NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorFemaleHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmunohistochemistryMaleMicrosatellite InstabilityMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsRetrospective StudiesB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmune Checkpoint ProteinsdMMREarly gastric cancerImmune checkpointLAG-3, TIM-3PD-L1Tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42298513
PMCPMC13501609

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