Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41487587›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2025

Tumour immune microenvironment prognostic factors in locally advanced rectal cancer, a systematic review.

Alasdair Ball, Rebecca Lefroy, Malcolm Price, David McArthur, Andrew Beggs

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alasdair BallInstitute for Biomedical Research, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Rebecca LefroyInstitute for Biomedical Research, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Malcolm PriceInstitute of Applied Health Research, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
David McArthurDepartment of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Andrew BeggsInstitute for Biomedical Research, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding factors influencing individual survival outcomes following surgical resection of locally advanced (LARC) rectal cancer remains challenging. Novel biomarkers could show emerging promise in this setting. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on immune prognostic factors in LARC. Methods: The review protocol was preregistered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42023460541). Included studies were required to report overall survival and at least one immune prognostic factor for at least ten patients with LARC. Final searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Central were concluded on 8th September 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS tool. Results: 22 retrospective cohort studies involving 2,622 LARC patients were included in the review. We did not find any published data on immune prognostic factors in locally recurrent rectal cancer. Due to inconsistency of immune prognostic factor definitions and measurement methods, meta-analysis would not be meaningful. Instead, the results are presented descriptively. Risk of bias was concentrated in the participation, attrition, and confounding domains. Greater cytotoxic cell infiltration was associated with improved overall survival. There was inconsistent evidence of an association of PD-L1 expression and survival. M2 macrophage infiltration and homozygous germline FPR1 loss-of-function were associated with worse survival. Discussion: These findings support a role for both innate and acquired immune systems in mediating outcomes following surgery for LARC and suggest that further work into immunomodulation may show promise in improving LARC treatment. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier [CRD42023460541].

Indexed as

immune systemlymphocytemacrophageprognosisrectal cancer

Identifiers

PMID41487587
PMCPMC12757241

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.