Developing a personalized immunotherapy for lung cancer patients: Identification of tumor reactive CTLs

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19990
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory surgery
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Yoshikawa Toshiaki 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, 研究員 (00625957)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 肺がん / 遺伝子変異由来抗原 / 腫瘍浸潤リンパ球

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The antigens encoded by the tumor-specific somatic mutations are potentially best targets for cancer immunotherapy. To develop a personalized immunotherapy for lung cancer, we characterized the tumor reactive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Surgically resected tumor tissues were obtained from 50 patients with lung cancer. We found the marker to isolate tumor reactive TILs ex vivo. Patient derived xenografts (PDX) were generated from some primary tumor tissues, and, the reactivity of TILs against autologous PDX cancer cells was evaluated. We performed whole-exome sequencing on matched tumor and normal DNA. The candidates of mutated epitopes were identified. We will identify the antigens recognized by these tumor-reactive TILs. Combined with bioinformatics prediction and the assay with ex vivo isolated TILs, we try to determine useful TCR, which recognize antigen for cancer immunotherapy.

Free Research Field

腫瘍免疫学