Published online Sep 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i9.1126
Revised: July 29, 2024
Accepted: August 12, 2024
Published online: September 24, 2024
Processing time: 94 Days and 5.7 Hours
Gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (GSRCC) is a subtype of gastric cancer with distinct phenotype and high risk of peritoneal metastasis. Studies have shown that early GSRCC has a good prognosis, while advanced GSRCC is insensitive to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immune checkpoint blockade therapy. With technological advancement of single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and cytometry by time of flight mass cytometry, more detailed atlas of tumor microenvironment (TME) in GSRCC and its association with prognosis could be investigated extensively. Recently, two single-cell RNA sequencing studies revealed that GSRCC harbored a unique TME, manifested as highly immunosuppressive, leading to high immune escape. The TME of advanced GSRCC was enriched for immunosuppressive factors, including the loss of CXCL13+-cluster of differentiation 8+-Tex cells and declined clonal crosstalk among populations of T and B cells. In addition, GSRCC was mainly infiltrated by follicular B cells. The increased proportion of SRCC was accompanied by a decrease in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-derived B cells and a significant increase in follicular B cells, which may be one of the reasons for the poor prognosis of GSRCC. By understanding the relationship between immunosuppressive TME and poor prognosis in GSRCC and the underlying mechanism, more effective immunotherapy strategies and improved treatment outcomes of GSRCC can be antici
Core Tip: Two single-cell RNA sequencing studies in 2023 revealed an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma (GSRCC). Advanced GSRCC was enriched for immunosuppressive factors, including the loss of CXCL13+-cluster of differentiation 8+-Tex cells and declined clonal crosstalk among populations of T and B cells. In addition, GSRCC was mainly infiltrated by follicular B cells. Distinct molecular characteristics and more effective immunotherapy strategies should be investigated to improve the clinical outcomes of GSRCC.