Prediction of radiosensitivity of head and neck cancer using comprehensive genomic analysis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K10411
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Motegi Atsushi 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 東病院, 医員 (10433997)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 秋元 哲夫 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 先端医療開発センター, 分野長 (10261851) ; 北條 秀博 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 東病院, 医員 (60638774)
• Research Collaborator: Tsuchihara Kazuya
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部癌 / 放射感受性予測 / HPV / 網羅的遺伝子解析 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a pilot study investigating the change of the amount of cancer-specific DNA throughout radiotherapy in saliva and blood of the patients with oropharyngeal cancer. HPV-related DNA in the saliva decreased significantly during the treatment period, and part of the patients whose saliva contained large amount of HPV-related DNA experienced recurrences. Head neck cancer-specific mutation, such as TP53 and NOTCH1, were also detectable in DNA extracted from saliva. With these preliminary findings, it will be more feasible to conduct studies to predict radiosensitivity of patients with head neck cancer using their saliva which contains cancer-specific DNA.

Free Research Field

放射線腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

頭頸部領域のがんに対する放射線治療は、粘膜炎や口腔乾燥などの副作用が問題となる。