Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 is a biomarker and potential therapeutic target in human colon cancer.

Abstract

e15514 Background: Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2), a transmembrane glycoprotein in epithelial cells, is implicated in malignant progression, notably in breast cancer therapy. However, the clinicopathologic aspects of TROP2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. This study aims to explore the association between TROP2 expression and clinicopathological features in CRC and investigate the inhibitory effects of the anti-TROP2 antibody-SN-38 conjugate (ADC-TROP2) on colon cancer cells. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1296 CRC patients who underwent colorectomy at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, was conducted. Immunohistochemistry determined the expressions of TROP2, HER2, and PD-L1 in colon cancer tissues. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test and Cox proportional hazards model, assessed associations. Sacituzumab Govitecan (ADC-TROP2 drug) cytotoxicity on human cancer cells was determined using the MTT method. Results: TROP2 was predominantly expressed at the cell membrane of cancer tissues, with 50% of cases TROP2-positive. The overexpression of TROP2 (staining extension 2+ or 3+) were found in 356 (27.5%) cases. The clinicopathological features of all 1296 patients based on the TROP2 expression in their cancer cells were summarized in Table 1. Compared to TROP2 negativity expression, the high TROP2 expression was significantly associated with the advantaged tumor stage (III/IV, P = 0.022), high tumor invasion depth (T3/T4, P = 0.002), lymph node metastasis (N1/N2, p = 0.026), HER-2 expression (2+/3+, p = 0.013) ,PD-L1 CPS (CPS≤5,P = 0.007). Sacituzumab Govitecan exhibited stronger inhibition in TROP2-positive human CRC cells in TROP2-negative CRC cells compared to TROP2-negative cells and the control SN-38 agent. Conclusions: TROP2 expression positive in 50% of CRC cases is associated with with advantaged tumor stage, high tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastasis. Sacituzumab Govitecan demonstrates potent targeting of TROP2-positive CRC cells, suggesting TROP2 as a potential biomarker for clinical prognosis and therapeutic targeting in colon cancer. [Table: see text]