Conclusions:
- GDF15 expression correlates with increased dMMR/MSI-H and TMB, but not with PDL1 expression.
- GDF15 is associated with chromatin remodeling which may warrant therapies targeting histone modification and epigenetics.
- GDF15 expression is associated with increase in NK cells but decrease in CD8+ T cells in the TME.
- The decrease in CD8+ T cells and PDL1 positivity with rising GDF15 suggests worse outcome and a lack of response to anti-PDL1 therapy.
- High GDF15 expressing tumors may benefit from immune treatment strategies.
- Understanding GDF15 regulation and expression in metastatic colon cancer may reveal which patients could benefit from developing anti-GDF15 targeted therapies against cancer progression.