Cited by 71Cancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersColorectal Cancer Treatments and StudiesImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

A constitutive interferon-high immunophenotype defines response to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer

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Acha-Sagredo, Amelia, Andrei, Pietro, Clayton, Kalum, Taggart, Emma, Antoniotti, Carlotta, Woodman, Chloé A., Afrache, Hassnae, Fourny, Constance +29 more·2025·Cancer Cell

Abstract

Fewer than 50% of metastatic deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Identifying and expanding this patient population remains a pressing clinical need. Here, we report that an interferon-high immunophenotype locally enriched in cytotoxic lymphocytes and antigen-presenting macrophages is required for response. This immunophenotype is not exclusive to dMMR CRCs but comprises a subset of MMR proficient (pMMR) CRCs. Single-cell spatial analysis and in vitro cell co-cultures indicate that interferon-producing cytotoxic T cells induce overexpression of antigen presentation in adjacent macrophages and tumor cells, including MHC class II invariant chain CD74. dMMR CRCs expressing high levels of CD74 respond to ICI and a subset of CD74 high pMMR CRC patients show better progression free survival when treated with ICI. Therefore, CD74 abundance can identify the constitutive interferon-high immunophenotype determining clinical benefit in CRC, independently of tumor mutational burden or MMR status.

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  • Local enrichment of cytotoxic lymphocytes with an interferon-high immunophenotype that induces antigen-presentation in adjacent macrophages and tumour cells is a positive response predictor in subsets of dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS CRC.

    “A novel interesting approach was recently published, identifying local enrichment of cytotoxic lymphocytes with an interferon-high immunophenotype that induces antigen-presentation in adjacent macrophages and tumour cells as a positive response predictor in subsets of dMMR/MSI-H but also pMMR/MSS CRC.108”

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  1. [4]4. [Smyrk, T.C., Watson, P., Kaul, K., and Lynch, H.T. (2001). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are a marker for microsatellite instability in colorectal carcinoma. Cancer 91 , 2417-2422.](http://refhub.elsevier.com/S1535-6108(24)00483-5/sref4)

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Authors
Acha-Sagredo, A., Andrei, P., Clayton, K., Taggart, E., Antoniotti, C., Woodman, C. A., Afrache, H., Fourny, C., Armero, M., Moinudeen, H. K., Green, M., Bhardwaj, N., Mikolajczak, A., Rodriguez-Lopez, M., Crawford, M., Connick, E., Lim, S., Hobson, P., Linares, J., Ignatova, E., Pelka, D., Smyth, E. C., Diamantis, N., Sosnowska, D., Carullo, M., Ciraci, P., Bergamo, F., Intini, R., Nye, E., Barral, P., Mishto, M., Arnold, J. N., Lonardi, S., Cremolini, C., Fontana, E., Rodriguez-Justo, M., & Ciccarelli, F. D.
Affiliations
  • Queen Mary University of London (GB)
  • University of Pisa (IT)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • The Francis Crick Institute (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Sarah Cannon Research Institute (GB)
  • Churchill Hospital (GB)
  • Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IT)
Corresponding author
Ciccarelli, Francesca D.
Venue
Cancer Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-02
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
292-307.e7
ISSN
1535-6108 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4406547947
Cited by
71
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 25
FWCI
29.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • The Francis Crick Institute (cc-by)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council (MR/W006820/1, CANCTA-2023/100002)
  • European Commission
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
  • Cancer Research UK (CANCTA-2023/100002, C43634/A25487, C7893/A26233, EDDPJT-Nov21\u2216100010)
  • Francis Crick Institute
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • UCLH Biomedical Research Centre
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
colorectal cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, CD74, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, antigen presentation, mismatch repair status, immunotherapy response prediction, single-cell spatial analysis, progression-free survival
MeSH terms
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte, Histocompatibility Antigens Class II, Female, Humans, Immunotherapy, Interferons, Macrophages, Male, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Colorectal Neoplasms, Immunophenotyping, Antigen Presentation, DNA Mismatch Repair

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