Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42685490›Full record

ArticleNeoplasia (New York, N.Y.)2026

HLA class I expression and tumor immune infiltration together shape colon cancer immune contexture.

Hehuan Zhu, Roos van Nieuwkerk, Savannah van der Kroft, Ronald L P van Vlierberghe, Marieke E IJsselsteijn, Weimin Zuo, Thomas Vauvert F Hviid, Rob A E M Tollenaar, Alexander L Vahrmeijer, Davide Bedognetti and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neoplasia (New York, N.Y.), 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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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

13 authors.

Hehuan ZhuDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Electronic address: h.zhu@lumc.nl.
Roos van NieuwkerkDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Savannah van der KroftDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Ronald L P van VlierbergheDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Marieke E IJsselsteijnDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Weimin ZuoGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.
Thomas Vauvert F HviidDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Zealand University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; The ReproHealth Research Consortium, Zealand University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rob A E M TollenaarDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Alexander L VahrmeijerDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Davide BedognettiTumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
Wouter R L HendrickxTumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
Jessica RoelandsDepartment of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Electronic address: j.p.roelands@lumc.nl.
Peter J K KuppenDepartment of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Electronic address: p.j.k.kuppen@lumc.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe relative contribution of HLA class I molecules-including classical HLA class Ia (HLA-A, -B, -C) and non-classical HLA class Ib (HLA-E, -F, -G)-to shaping the tumor immune microenvironment in colon cancer remains insufficiently defined. We investigated how their expression patterns relate to immune infiltration and clinical outcome.

methodsIn a retrospective cohort of 280 colon cancers, we assessed HLA class Ia and class Ib expression and quantified CD45-positive immune cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry. These features were correlated with clinicopathological variables, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and previously established genomic immune signatures.

resultsHigh HLA class Ia expression and increased CD45-positive cell infiltration were each associated with improved overall, disease-specific, and progression-free survival. CD45-positive density correlated strongly with Immunologic Constant of Rejection scores. HLA class Ia loss was more frequent in advanced stages and in MSI-H tumors. Among HLA class Ib molecules, only HLA-E expression was associated with favorable disease-specific and progression-free survival. Integrative analysis identified three immune phenotypes with distinct prognostic profiles; tumors characterized by high HLA class Ia expression, low HLA class Ib expression, and high CD45-positive infiltration had the best outcomes.

conclusionColon cancer immunogenicity is shaped by coordinated patterns of HLA class I expression and immune infiltration. Integrating HLA class Ia/Ib expression with immune cell density provides a refined stratification of tumor immune phenotypes and may support personalized immunotherapeutic decision-making.

Indexed as

Antigen presentationColon cancerHLA class IImmune contextureImmune infiltration

Identifiers

PMID42685490
PMCPMC13570313

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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.