Title: SPOCK1 and POSTN are valuable prognostic biomarkers and correlate with tumor
immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jun 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors used TCGA database and various methods to identify key genes in colorectal cancer
(CRC) associated with immune cell and prognosis. The two genes, SPOCK1 and POSTN,
were discovered and were correlated with clinicopathological features as well as macrophage-
associated marker expression and survival. The formal part of the manuscript, up until the key
genes are sorted, is acceptable with a flowchart giving a clear navigation of the process.
However, the latter half of this article has some concerning points.
1. Since bulk RNA-seq data was used to identify the key genes, it is crucial to clarify its source.
In gastric and pancreatic cancers, SPOCK1 has been reported in cancer-associated fibroblasts
(PMID: 34692770 and PMID: 28486750, respectively). In pancreatic cancer, SPOCK1 has
shown stronger expression in stromal cells compared with those of tumor cells. Moreover,
POSTN expression in CAF has been reported to be associated with prognosis in CRC (PMID:
28407462). However, this article does not state the potential source of the key genes in the bulk
RNA-seq analysis. Analysis of scRNA-seq for CRC could help whether CAF or tumor cell is
the main source of the key genes.
2. Associated with the first issue, Figures 9B and D depict tumor cell-associated POSTN and
SPOCK1 expressions. However, both POSTN and SPOCK1 has been reported to have various
degree of expression within CAF, and therefore, eight samples could be insufficient to determine
the origin of the key genes. If tumoral expression of POSTN and SPOCK1 are not proven in a
higher number of samples, it would not be acceptable to conclude that expression of POSTN
and SPOCK1 in CRC cells are associated with prognosis, since these characteristics were only
proven by bulk RNA-seq.
Title: SPOCK1 and POSTN are valuable prognostic biomarkers and correlate with tumor
immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jun 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors used TCGA database and various methods to identify key genes in colorectal cancer
(CRC) associated with immune cell and prognosis. The two genes, SPOCK1 and POSTN,
were discovered and were correlated with clinicopathological features as well as macrophage-
associated marker expression and survival. The formal part of the manuscript, up until the key
genes are sorted, is acceptable with a flowchart giving a clear navigation of the process.
However, the latter half of this article has some concerning points.
1. Since bulk RNA-seq data was used to identify the key genes, it is crucial to clarify its source.
In gastric and pancreatic cancers, SPOCK1 has been reported in cancer-associated fibroblasts
(PMID: 34692770 and PMID: 28486750, respectively). In pancreatic cancer, SPOCK1 has
shown stronger expression in stromal cells compared with those of tumor cells. Moreover,
POSTN expression in CAF has been reported to be associated with prognosis in CRC (PMID:
28407462). However, this article does not state the potential source of the key genes in the bulk
RNA-seq analysis. Analysis of scRNA-seq for CRC could help whether CAF or tumor cell is
the main source of the key genes.
2. Associated with the first issue, Figures 9B and D depict tumor cell-associated POSTN and
SPOCK1 expressions. However, both POSTN and SPOCK1 has been reported to have various
degree of expression within CAF, and therefore, eight samples could be insufficient to determine
the origin of the key genes. If tumoral expression of POSTN and SPOCK1 are not proven in a
higher number of samples, it would not be acceptable to conclude that expression of POSTN
and SPOCK1 in CRC cells are associated with prognosis, since these characteristics were only
proven by bulk RNA-seq.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: SPOCK1 and POSTN are valuable prognostic biomarkers and correlate with tumor
immune infiltrates in colorectal cancer
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jun 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors used TCGA database and various methods to identify key genes in colorectal cancer
(CRC) associated with immune cell and prognosis. The two genes, SPOCK1 and POSTN,
were discovered and were correlated with clinicopathological features as well as macrophage-
associated marker expression and survival. The formal part of the manuscript, up until the key
genes are sorted, is acceptable with a flowchart giving a clear navigation of the process.
However, the latter half of this article has some concerning points.
1. Since bulk RNA-seq data was used to identify the key genes, it is crucial to clarify its source.
In gastric and pancreatic cancers, SPOCK1 has been reported in cancer-associated fibroblasts
(PMID: 34692770 and PMID: 28486750, respectively). In pancreatic cancer, SPOCK1 has
shown stronger expression in stromal cells compared with those of tumor cells. Moreover,
POSTN expression in CAF has been reported to be associated with prognosis in CRC (PMID:
28407462). However, this article does not state the potential source of the key genes in the bulk
RNA-seq analysis. Analysis of scRNA-seq for CRC could help whether CAF or tumor cell is
the main source of the key genes.
2. Associated with the first issue, Figures 9B and D depict tumor cell-associated POSTN and
SPOCK1 expressions. However, both POSTN and SPOCK1 has been reported to have various
degree of expression within CAF, and therefore, eight samples could be insufficient to determine
the origin of the key genes. If tumoral expression of POSTN and SPOCK1 are not proven in a
higher number of samples, it would not be acceptable to conclude that expression of POSTN
and SPOCK1 in CRC cells are associated with prognosis, since these characteristics were only
proven by bulk RNA-seq.
assistant