Novel Immunotherapy for Malignant Thymic Epithelial Tumors with PD1/PDL1 Signaling

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K10705
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory surgery
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: INOUE Masayoshi 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10379232)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 常塚 啓彰 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (00453100) ; 加藤 大志朗 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 客員講師 (70315943) ; 阿部 かおり (一瀬かおり) 京都府立医科大学, 医学部附属病院, 研究員 (80587593)
• Research Collaborator: Ishihara Shunta 京都府立医科大学, 大学院医学研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 胸腺上皮性腫瘍 / PD-L1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated PD-L1 expression in 66 thymic epithelial tumors. In addition to conventional visual evaluation, we performed Whole Slide Imaging (WSI), which enable an objective assessment, and analyzed their relationship. As a result, 1, WSI is available in thymoma, but not in thymic carcinoma due to its variety. 2, PD-L1 expression level is correlated with histological grade and stage in thymic epithelial tumors overall. 3, Patients with PD-L1 high expression tumors show poor prognosis in both relapse-free and overall survivals. These results suggest PD-L1 expression could be an biomarker in malignant thymic epithelial tumors.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は比較的稀な悪性腫瘍である胸腺腫・胸腺癌における免疫チェックポイント分子の発現解析に関し，従来の免疫染色法に加えより客観的なデジタルイメージ解析を行ったもので，将来的な免疫チェックポイント阻害薬の開発と実臨床に寄与する可能性がある．