Development of sensitive detection method for circulating tumor cells by packaging single cell in microdroplet

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H03836
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nanobioscience
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University (2017-2019); Waseda University (2016)
• Principal Investigator: Terazono Hideyuki 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域鹿児島大学病院, 准教授 (30398143)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 血中がん細胞 / 微細加工 / 細胞工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop a techniques to capture cancer cells in the blood(CTCs: circulating tumor cells). Capturing live CTCs allows us to get information that exist in the primary nest as well as be able to test the sensitivity of the anti-cancer drug. The number of CTC is predominantly lower than the normal number of red and white blood cells. In this research, we developed a technique to capture CTC with high sensitivity. It is usually impossible to determine which cells are derived from cancer cells when cultured in the state of being mixed with normal cells. We developed a basic technique to distinguish which cells are derived from cancer cells by subdividing and culturing in small microgels.

Free Research Field

薬物動態

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がん転移は多くの場合、治療困難場合に陥りやすい。転移を起こす経路としてはリンパあるいは血管が主である。これまで血管内を流れる転移性のがん細胞を捉える手段として、血中の癌由来DNAの補足、あるいは抗体などを用いた細胞の検出などの方法が存在している。本研究技術が確立できれば、生きたままの転生のがん細胞を捉えることが可能になり、原発巣に存在するがん細胞の情報を取り出すことができるだけでなく、がん細胞を人工的に体外で増殖させ、どのような抗がん剤に感受性を持つか検査できる可能性を持つ意味で学術的な意義が存在する。