RELEVANCE OF ANNEXIN A1 AND CD70 IMMUNO-ONCOLOGICAL MARKERS IN SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER
Paál Ágnes
Cardiovascular Medicine and Research Division
Dr. Merkely Béla
NET Farmakológiai és Farmakoterápiás Intézet, Knoll (Issekutz) terem
2026-10-13 16:00:00
Cardiovascular Disorders: Physiology and Medicine of Ischaemic Circulatory Diseases
Dr. Merkely Béla
Dr. Görbe Anikó, Dr. Varga Zoltán
Dr. Sebestyén Anna
Dr. Pongor Lőrinc
Dr. Varga János Tamás
Dr. Schvarcz Csaba
Dr. Krenács Tibor
Dr. Mihály Dóra
The biology of SCLC involves complex interactions between tumor-intrinsic molecular alterations and the tumor microenvironment. ANXA1 and the CD70–CD27 axis may contribute to this complexity through their associations with immune modulation and mesenchymal characteristics. These processes may contribute to tumor progression, immune evasion, and metastatic potential, underscoring the multifaceted nature of SCLC.
Our study demonstrates highly context-dependent roles of ANXA1 in SCLC, with effects on multiple functional endpoints, including proliferation and chemosensitivity, as well as changes in mesenchymal, metabolic, and immune-related markers. ANXA1 expression was also associated in a cell type-dependent manner with non-NE phenotype-related markers and increased immune cell infiltration. In the clinical context, ANXA1 showed both stromal and intratumoral expression in situ, co-localizing with CD45⁺ stromal immune cells and CD68⁺ macrophages, and was associated with poorer survival. We also identified CD70 as a clinically relevant prognostic biomarker in SCLC, with high tumor expression associated with worse overall survival. CD70 expression was also detected in components of the TME, including CD68⁺ TAMs, although its expression was not associated with immune cell infiltration. In contrast, CD27 showed predominantly stromal expression, with higher stromal CD27 expression associated with lower CD45⁺ and CD8⁺ immune cell infiltration in the stroma, but was not associated with prognosis.
Although ANXA1 itself may not represent an ideal therapeutic target, uncovering the mechanisms through which it influences SCLC phenotypes may provide insight into the underlying biological heterogeneity and reveal alternative therapeutic vulnerabilities. Together, these findings highlight the importance of molecular and microenvironmental context in SCLC biology. The shared associations of ANXA1 and CD70 with macrophages and vimentin-positive cells further suggest the potential relevance of spatial expression patterns and possible biological links through TME modulation and mesenchymal characteristics. Overall, our findings support further investigation of ANXA1-linked pathways and the CD70–CD27 axis as potential contributors to SCLC progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance.
