KRASG12/13 mutation modulates CRC outcomes via disrupting positive feedback between macrophage and CD4+ T cell.
Xuehan Yan, Juncheng Su, Hongyuan Liu, Tianli Yuan, Yiqing Zhong, Tian Xie, Zheng Wang
Abstract
Open AccessKirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) mutation influences colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but their specific impact on the tumor immune microenvironment remains poorly defined. This study establishes that KRASG12/13 mutation disrupts critical positive feedback between macrophages and CD4+ T cells. Mechanistically, KRASG12/13-mutant tumor cells secrete elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10), which suppresses macrophage production of chemokine ligand 9/10 (CXCL9/10) and major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II). This impairs the infiltration and activation of CXCR3+CD4+ T cells, fostering an immunosuppressive niche. By integrating multi-omics data from clinical cohorts and validating findings in vivo, we show that combining KRAS inhibitors with CXCL9/10 restoration effectively overcomes this immune suppression and controls tumor growth. Our work delineates a targetable immune evasion mechanism and provides a cohesive prognostic and therapeutic framework for KRASG12/13-mutant CRC.