Identification of tumor microenvironment involving tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells in lung cancer

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K21533
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor therapeutics; Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Kawasaki Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Kurose Koji 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30551139)
• Research Collaborator: Ohue Yoshihiro 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (70435014) ; Nakayama Eiichi 川崎医科大学, 客員教授 (60180428) ; Oka Mikio 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40223995)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 肺癌微小環境 / 制御性T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, in order to clarify the presence or absence of inflammation of the tumor microenvironment and the involvement of tumor infiltrating regulatory T cells (Treg) in lung cancer, we examined the association of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, Treg fraction, and inhibitory molecules PD-1, TIM-3 on T-cells with PD-L1 on tumor cells. In the high expression group of PD-L1, there were many tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, whereas there were also many activated Tregs, and high expression of PD-1 and TIM-3 on T cells was observed. Furthermore, Treg depletion using anti-CCR4 antibody resulted in an increase in the number of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and an increase in the expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells. In the high expression group of PD-L1, Treg depletion and anti-PD-1 therapy may enhance the therapeutic effect.

Free Research Field

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