Fig. 6: The comprehensive immunosuppressive mechanism in imatinib resistant GIST.

a Cell communication analysis on TIGIT-NECTIN2 and BTLA-TNFRSF14 pair between different cell types in imatinib resistant and sensitive patients respectively. Expression of NECTIN2 (b), BTLA (c) and TNFRSF14 (d) in each cell type in imatinib resistant and sensitive patients respectively. e IHC analysis of NECTIN2, BTLA and TNFRSF14 between imatinib resistant (upper) and sensitive (bottom) patients. f Schematic diagram of the unique tumor-immune microenvironment of imatinib-resistance in advanced GIST.