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Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies TREM2 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker
Cheng X, Wang X, Nie K, Cheng L, Zhang Z, Hu Y, Peng W.. Frontiers in immunology, 2021-02-17
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is a transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily and a crucial signaling hub for multiple pathological pathways that mediate immunity. Although increasing evidence supports a vital role for TREM2 in tumorigenesis of some cancers, no systematic pan-cancer analysis of TREM2 is available. Thus, we aimed to explore the prognostic value, and investigate the potential immunological functions, of TREM2 across 33 cancer types.
Key findings
- Although increasing evidence supports a vital role for TREM2 in tumorigenesis of some cancers, no systematic pan-cancer analysis of TREM2 is available.
- Thus, we aimed to explore the prognostic value, and investigate the potential immunological functions, of TREM2 across 33 cancer types.
- Based on datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Genotype Tissue-Expression, cBioPortal, and Human Protein Atlas, we employed an array of bioinformatics methods to explore the potential oncogenic roles of TREM2, including analyzing the relationship between TREM2 and prognosis, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), DNA methylation, and immune cell infiltration of different tumors.
- The results show that TREM2 is highly expressed in most cancers, but present at low levels in lung cancer.
Why it matters
This is a pan-cancer analysis of TREM2 across 33 cancer types, not a study of Alzheimer's disease. It provides no information on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in immunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Frontiers in Immunology: journal h-index 352 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 110 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.7 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 47 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Weijun Peng: h-index 37 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Central South University: institution h-index 699 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33679809) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.646523
- PubMed: 33679809
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Immunology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cheng, X., Wang, X., Nie, K., Cheng, L., Zhang, Z., Hu, Y., et al. (2021). Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies TREM2 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker. Frontiers in immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.646523
Vancouver
Cheng X, Wang X, Nie K, Cheng L, Zhang Z, Hu Y, et al. Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies TREM2 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker. Frontiers in immunology. 2021. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.646523. PMID: 33679809.
BibTeX
@article{cheng2021-33679809,
author = {Cheng, X. and Wang, X. and Nie, K. and Cheng, L. and Zhang, Z. and Hu, Y. and Peng, W.},
title = {{Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies TREM2 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker}},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2021.646523},
pmid = {33679809},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.646523}
}
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