The amplification or mutation of oncogenes and escape from immune surveillance systems promote tumor metastasis. However, subtle changes in the immune microenvironment and signaling pathways are poorly understood during the formation of lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) and lymph node (LN) metastasis of endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (EEA).
We detected tumor immunology-related signaling pathways and immunocyte subtypes according to the mRNA levels of 750 oncogenes and genes relating to the tumor microenvironment and immune response using the Nanostring PanCancer IO 360 Panel in 24 paraffin-embedded tissues of EEAs and benign gynecological diseases. Internal reference genes were used for data normalization.
Angiogenesis and immune cell adhesion signaling pathways were activated during LVSI formation of EEA progression. However, during the development of LVSI to LN metastasis, immune system signaling pathways were significantly inhibited, including antigen presentation, cytotoxicity, lymphoid compartment, interferon signaling, and costimulatory signaling pathways. Immune-related genes (CD69, HLA-DOA, ATF3, GBP1, AP2, DTX3L, EGR1, GBP4, TAP1, EIF2AK2, MX1, ISG15, STAT1, and HLA-DRA) were significantly downregulated in EEA with LN metastasis compared to those in EEA with LVSI. Instead, hypoxia, metabolic stress, epigenetic regulation, matrix remodeling, and metastasis signaling pathways were continuously activated in LN metastasis. We also found that neutrophils, macrophages, and mast cells might be involved in LVSI formation and LN metastasis in EEA.
EEA with metastatic LNs showed significant immunosuppressive effects. Some oncogenes, matrix remodeling- and hypoxia-related genes, and neutrophil signatures showed higher expression, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets and offering new immunotherapy strategies in EEA during LN metastasis.