The identification of targets that are expressed on the cell membrane is a main goal
in cancer research. The Lymphocyte Antigen 6 Family Member G6D (LY6G6D) gene codes
for a protein that is mainly present on the surface of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.
Therapeutic strategies against this protein like the development of T cell engagers
(TCE) are currently in the early clinical stage. In the present work, we interrogated
public genomic datasets including TCGA to evaluate the genomic and immunologic cell
profile present in tumors with high expression of LY6G6D. We used data from TCGA,
among others, and the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER2.0) platform for immune
cell estimations and Spearman correlation tests. LY6G6D expression was exclusively
present in CRC, particularly in the microsatellite stable (MSS) subtype, and was associated
with left-side tumors and the canonical genomic subgroup. Tumors with mutations of
APC and p53 expressed elevated levels of LY6G6D. This protein was expressed in tumors
with an inert immune microenvironment with an absence of immune cells and co-inhibitory
molecules. In conclusion, we described clinical, genomic and immune-pathologic characteristics
that can be used to optimize the clinical development of agents against this target.
Future studies should be performed to confirm these findings and potentially explore
the suggested clinical development options.
