Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objective This study investigates the impact of Titin (TTN) gene mutations on radiotherapy sensitivity in rectum adenocarcinoma (READ) by examining changes in the tumour immune microenvironment. Methods Data on gene expression and mutations in READ were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas...

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Main Authors: Hengchang Liu, Jialiang Liu, Xu Guan, Zhixun Zhao, Pu Cheng, Haipeng Chen, Zheng Jiang, Xishan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Clinical and Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70123
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author Hengchang Liu
Jialiang Liu
Xu Guan
Zhixun Zhao
Pu Cheng
Haipeng Chen
Zheng Jiang
Xishan Wang
author_facet Hengchang Liu
Jialiang Liu
Xu Guan
Zhixun Zhao
Pu Cheng
Haipeng Chen
Zheng Jiang
Xishan Wang
author_sort Hengchang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study investigates the impact of Titin (TTN) gene mutations on radiotherapy sensitivity in rectum adenocarcinoma (READ) by examining changes in the tumour immune microenvironment. Methods Data on gene expression and mutations in READ were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Bioinformatics analysis explored the correlation between TTN mutations and immune cell infiltration. In vitro, lentiviral vectors were used to assess TTN mutations' effects on ANKRD1 expression in two READ cell lines. ANKRD1 was overexpressed, and clonogenic assays evaluated radiotherapy sensitivity. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and comet assays examined mutations' impact on cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA damage response (DDR). An in vivo mouse model and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples from locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients before and after radiotherapy were analyzed, followed by prognostic evaluation. Results Bioinformatics revealed that TTN mutations increase radiation sensitivity in LARC by slowing cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, and reducing DDR. TTN mutations also inhibit ANKRD1 expression via JUN disruption and enhance CD4/CD8 T‐cell infiltration, improving anti‐tumour immunity and outcomes. Observations from the clinical study showed a substantial decline in ANKRD1 expression levels alongside a notable surge in the counts of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after undergoing radiotherapy. Patients with TTN mutations, low ANKRD1 expression, and high densities of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had longer 3‐year disease‐free survival in READ. Conclusion Our findings reveal that TTN mutations can serve as biomarkers for enhanced radiotherapy sensitivity in READ. By altering the tumour's immune microenvironment, these mutations may provide a novel target for personalized radiotherapy strategies, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes in patients with READ. Highlights The association between TTN mutations and tumour mutation burden, as well as immune cell infiltration in READ, is examined. TTN mutations enhance the radiation sensitivity of READ cells and weaken DNA damage repair in response to radiation. TTN mutations increase the radiation sensitivity of READ cells by inhibiting ANKRD1. The infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells induced by TTN mutations is essential for anti‐tumour immunity. TTN mutations serve as a biomarker for the pathological response to preoperative radiotherapy in READ.
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spelling doaj-art-cee387408ba64cd9a98dc72528aa85f42025-01-25T04:00:38ZengWileyClinical and Translational Medicine2001-13262025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/ctm2.70123Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinomaHengchang Liu0Jialiang Liu1Xu Guan2Zhixun Zhao3Pu Cheng4Haipeng Chen5Zheng Jiang6Xishan Wang7Department of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaDepartment of Colorectal Surgery National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center of Cancer/Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaAbstract Objective This study investigates the impact of Titin (TTN) gene mutations on radiotherapy sensitivity in rectum adenocarcinoma (READ) by examining changes in the tumour immune microenvironment. Methods Data on gene expression and mutations in READ were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Bioinformatics analysis explored the correlation between TTN mutations and immune cell infiltration. In vitro, lentiviral vectors were used to assess TTN mutations' effects on ANKRD1 expression in two READ cell lines. ANKRD1 was overexpressed, and clonogenic assays evaluated radiotherapy sensitivity. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and comet assays examined mutations' impact on cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA damage response (DDR). An in vivo mouse model and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples from locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients before and after radiotherapy were analyzed, followed by prognostic evaluation. Results Bioinformatics revealed that TTN mutations increase radiation sensitivity in LARC by slowing cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, and reducing DDR. TTN mutations also inhibit ANKRD1 expression via JUN disruption and enhance CD4/CD8 T‐cell infiltration, improving anti‐tumour immunity and outcomes. Observations from the clinical study showed a substantial decline in ANKRD1 expression levels alongside a notable surge in the counts of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after undergoing radiotherapy. Patients with TTN mutations, low ANKRD1 expression, and high densities of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had longer 3‐year disease‐free survival in READ. Conclusion Our findings reveal that TTN mutations can serve as biomarkers for enhanced radiotherapy sensitivity in READ. By altering the tumour's immune microenvironment, these mutations may provide a novel target for personalized radiotherapy strategies, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes in patients with READ. Highlights The association between TTN mutations and tumour mutation burden, as well as immune cell infiltration in READ, is examined. TTN mutations enhance the radiation sensitivity of READ cells and weaken DNA damage repair in response to radiation. TTN mutations increase the radiation sensitivity of READ cells by inhibiting ANKRD1. The infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells induced by TTN mutations is essential for anti‐tumour immunity. TTN mutations serve as a biomarker for the pathological response to preoperative radiotherapy in READ.https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70123ANKRD1anti‐tumour effectsDNA damage repairradiotherapy sensitivityrectum adenocarcinomaT‐cell infiltration
spellingShingle Hengchang Liu
Jialiang Liu
Xu Guan
Zhixun Zhao
Pu Cheng
Haipeng Chen
Zheng Jiang
Xishan Wang
Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
Clinical and Translational Medicine
ANKRD1
anti‐tumour effects
DNA damage repair
radiotherapy sensitivity
rectum adenocarcinoma
T‐cell infiltration
title Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
title_full Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
title_fullStr Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
title_short Titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
title_sort titin gene mutations enhance radiotherapy efficacy via modulation of tumour immune microenvironment in rectum adenocarcinoma
topic ANKRD1
anti‐tumour effects
DNA damage repair
radiotherapy sensitivity
rectum adenocarcinoma
T‐cell infiltration
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70123
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AT xuguan titingenemutationsenhanceradiotherapyefficacyviamodulationoftumourimmunemicroenvironmentinrectumadenocarcinoma
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