The effect of LOXL2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lymph node metastasis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K11234
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Ugumori Tohru 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (80512128)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 矢野 元 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (00284414) ; 岡田 昌浩 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (20512130)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部扁平上皮がん / リンパ節転移 / LOXL2 / 転移誘導因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We confirmed that LOXL2, which might induce a lymph node metastasis for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, was included as a protein in exosomes in human serum.
Serum LOXL2 levels tended to be significantly higher in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients than in healthy volunteers. Regarding the correlation between the clinical stage of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients and the serum LOXL2 content, the LOXL2 value was found to rise relatively early, and it was confirmed that it tended to decrease in the advanced stage of lymph node metastasis.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血清LOXL2含量が健常ボランティアに比べ、頭頸部扁平上皮がん患者において有意に高値である傾向は、血清LOXL2の頭頸部扁平上皮がん検出のバイオバーカーとしての可能性を示唆するものと考える。
頭頸部扁平上皮がん患者の臨床像と血清LOXL2含量における上記相関傾向は、前転移期ニッチェ形成に関与する因子としてのLOXL2の役割に矛盾しないものであり、血清LOXL2の転移危険性診断指標としての可能性が示唆されるものと考える。