Features of immune checkpoint expression in microsatellite stable gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is an aggressive tumor that is one of the leading causes of death from cancer. Treatment regimens are not often effective for this disease, so the development of new approaches to therapy and the search for predictive markers seems to be an urgent scientific task. Immune checkpoints (ICs) are promising therapeutic targets for malignant neoplasms. To understand the pathogenesis and optimize therapy, the role of ICs in tumor progression is being actively studied. In this study, IC gene expression levels and their co-expression with epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes were examined in a sample of patients with a microsatellite stable GC tumor phenotype. The association of the expression of these genes with the clinical characteristics of GC was assessed. It was found that the expression of the CD276 and PVR genes was reduced in low-differentiated tumors (p < 0.05). The development of metastases is associated with an increased level of TDO2 gene expression. In non-metastatic GC, a correlation was found between the expression levels of the CD44 and CD276 genes. In metastatic GC, a correlation of expression levels was found between the ADAM17, PVR, CD276 genes and the CD44, SNAI1 genes. The findings add to the understanding of the molecular genetic mechanisms that regulate tumor progression and may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches involving mutual inhibition of genes.

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