TY - JOUR

T1 - Calcium electroporation of esophageal cancer induces gene expression changes

T2 - a sub-study of a phase I clinical trial

AU - Egeland, Charlotte

AU - Balsevicius, Lukas

AU - Gögenur, Ismail

AU - Gehl, Julie

AU - Baeksgaard, Lene

AU - Garbyal, Rajendra Singh

AU - Achiam, Michael Patrick

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Purpose: In this study, we aim to investigate gene expression changes in tumor samples obtained from patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. Previously, local treatment with calcium electroporation has been shown to induce gene expression alterations, potentially contributing to a more tumor-hostile microenvironment. Methods: In this sub-study of a phase I clinical trial, we included five patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. We compared cancer-associated gene expression patterns in tumor samples before and after treatment. Furthermore, we used linear support vector regression to predict the cellular composition of tumor samples. Results: Using differential expression analysis, we identified the downregulation of CXCL14 and upregulation of CCL21, ANGPTL4, and CRABP2 genes. We also found a decreased predicted proportion of dendritic cells while the proportion of neutrophils was increased. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that calcium electroporation for esophageal cancer induces local transcriptional changes and possibly alters the cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment. The results are explorative, larger studies are needed to confirm and further correlate our findings with clinical outcomes.

AB - Purpose: In this study, we aim to investigate gene expression changes in tumor samples obtained from patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. Previously, local treatment with calcium electroporation has been shown to induce gene expression alterations, potentially contributing to a more tumor-hostile microenvironment. Methods: In this sub-study of a phase I clinical trial, we included five patients with esophageal cancer treated with calcium electroporation. We compared cancer-associated gene expression patterns in tumor samples before and after treatment. Furthermore, we used linear support vector regression to predict the cellular composition of tumor samples. Results: Using differential expression analysis, we identified the downregulation of CXCL14 and upregulation of CCL21, ANGPTL4, and CRABP2 genes. We also found a decreased predicted proportion of dendritic cells while the proportion of neutrophils was increased. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that calcium electroporation for esophageal cancer induces local transcriptional changes and possibly alters the cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment. The results are explorative, larger studies are needed to confirm and further correlate our findings with clinical outcomes.

KW - Calcium electroporation

KW - Cellular composition

KW - Esophageal cancer

KW - Gene expression changes

KW - Immunological response

KW - Tumor microenvironment

U2 - 10.1007/s00432-023-05357-y

DO - 10.1007/s00432-023-05357-y

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37688629

AN - SCOPUS:85170032730

VL - 149

SP - 16031

EP - 16042

JO - Zeitschrift fur Krebsforschung

JF - Zeitschrift fur Krebsforschung

SN - 0171-5216

IS - 17

ER -