February 02, 2026

E21 - PBK Expression and Immune-Activated Colorectal Cancer

11 minutes

E21 | 12 min | Latest | Publication Link

Podcast based on: Sawaguchi, H.; Uehara, T.; Iwaya, M.; Asaka, S.; Nakajima, T.; Komamura, S.; Imamura, S.; Iwaya, Y.; Sugenoya, S.; Kitazawa, M.; Soejima, Y.; Ota, H.; Nagaya, T. The Correlation of PBK Expression with an Immune-Activated Tumor Microenvironment and Outcome in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers 2026, 18, 482. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18030482

Type: Article | Publication date: 31 January 2026

Summary: Colorectal cancer shows large differences in patient outcomes, partly because tumors vary in their biological and immune characteristics. Identifying markers that reflect these differences is important for improving prognosis and treatment strategies. PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) is a protein involved in cell division and has been linked to cancer progression, but its clinical significance in colorectal cancer remains unclear. In this study, we examined PBK expression in tumor tissues from patients with colorectal cancer and analyzed its relationship with tumor features, immune cell infiltration, and patient survival. We found that tumors with high PBK expression were associated with a more active immune environment and better clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that PBK expression may help identify colorectal cancer patients with a favorable immune response and prognosis, providing useful information for future research and potential treatment stratification.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; tumor microenvironment; prognosis; immune microenvironment

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