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Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 5/2017

01-05-2017 | Original Article – Clinical Oncology

The prognostic value and pathobiological significance of Glasgow microenvironment score in gastric cancer

Authors: Zhi-Hua Zhou, Cheng-Dong Ji, Jiang Zhu, Hua-Liang Xiao, Hai-Bin Zhao, You-Hong Cui, Xiu-Wu Bian

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 5/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the prognostic value and pathobiological significance of Glasgow microenvironment score (GMS), a parameter based on tumor stroma percentage and inflammatory cell infiltration, in gastric cancer.

Methods

A total of 225 cases of gastric cancer were histologically reviewed, and GMS was evaluated for each case. The association between GMS and patients’ survival was investigated. Then the relationship between GMS and mismatch repair (MMR) status, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization, and the expression of PD1/PD-L1 was examined. Furthermore, the amount of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the content and maturity of collagen components were detected using IHC, Picrosirius Red staining and second harmonic generation imaging.

Results

GMS was significantly associated with clinical outcomes of gastric cancer, and multivariate analysis indicated that GMS was an independent factor (HR 1.725, P = 0.002). Low GMS was a manifestation of better prognosis and inflammatory tumor microenvironment, which was related to MMR deficiency (P = 0.042) and EBV infection (P = 0.032), and within this microenvironment, expression of PD-L1 in carcinoma cells (P = 0.030) or in inflammatory cells (P = 0.029) was significantly higher. In contrast, high GMS linked to a poorer survival and desmoplastic stroma, in which there existed markedly increased CAFs and collagen deposition.

Conclusion

GMS can serve as a useful prognostic factor for gastric cancer, and according to GMS, the tumor microenvironment in this cancer type may be partially classified as inflammatory or desmoplastic microenvironment that possesses different pathobiological features.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The prognostic value and pathobiological significance of Glasgow microenvironment score in gastric cancer
Authors
Zhi-Hua Zhou
Cheng-Dong Ji
Jiang Zhu
Hua-Liang Xiao
Hai-Bin Zhao
You-Hong Cui
Xiu-Wu Bian
Publication date
01-05-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-017-2346-1

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