A1 Journal article (refereed)
Stromal hyaluronan accumulation is associated with low immune response and poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer (2021)

Tahkola, K., Ahtiainen, M., Mecklin, J.-P., Kellokumpu, I., Laukkarinen, J., Tammi, M., Tammi, R., Väyrynen, J. P., & Böhm, J. (2021). Stromal hyaluronan accumulation is associated with low immune response and poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Scientific Reports, 11, Article 12216. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91796-x

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Tahkola, Kyösti; Ahtiainen, Maarit; Mecklin, Jukka-Pekka; Kellokumpu, Ilmo; Laukkarinen, Johanna; Tammi, Markku; Tammi, Raija; Väyrynen, Juha P.; Böhm, Jan

Journal or series: Scientific Reports

eISSN: 2045-2322

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 09/06/2021

Volume: 11

Article number: 12216

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91796-x

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76647

Abstract

Hyaluronan (HA) accumulation has been associated with poor survival in various cancers, but the mechanisms for this phenomenon are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of stromal HA accumulation and its association with host immune response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The study material consisted of 101 radically treated patients for PDAC from a single geographical area. HA staining was evaluated using a HA-specific probe, and the patterns of CD3, CD8, CD73 and PD-L1 expression were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. HA staining intensity of tumour stromal areas was assessed digitally using QuPath. CD3- and CD8-based immune cell score (ICS) was determined. High-level stromal HA expression was significantly associated with poor disease-specific survival (p = 0.037) and overall survival (p = 0.013) In multivariate analysis, high-level stromal HA expression was an independent negative prognostic factor together with histopathological grade, TNM stage, CD73 positivity in tumour cells and low ICS. Moreover, high-level stromal HA expression was associated with low ICS (p = 0.017). In conclusion, stromal HA accumulation is associated with poor survival and low immune response in PDAC.

Keywords: cancerous diseases; pancreatic cancer; forecasts; immune response; biomarkers; hyaluronan

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1