Development of a novel 3D lymphatic system map of the human biliary system spanning the nano to macro level

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17574
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Digestive surgery; General anatomy (including histology/embryology)
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Kagiya Takuji 弘前大学, 医学研究科, 助教 (70772317)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 十二指腸乳頭部癌 / Vater乳頭部癌 / 膵・胆道癌 / リンパ管システム / 転移メカニズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pancreatic and biliary cancers are malignant tumors with extremely poor prognosis, and little is known about the microenvironment and mechanisms of lymphatic metastasis. In order to propose a novel strategy to radically rethink treatment planning, we decided to develop a biliary lymphatic system map that can infer the microenvironment and metastatic routes of pancreatic and biliary tract cancers using a broad anatomical approach from the molecular to the ocular level. As a basis for this study, we clarified the micro lymphatic system and its anatomy in the human duodenal papillary region using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy for the first time in the world.

Free Research Field

肝胆膵外科学分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、十二指腸乳頭部癌におけるリンパ節転移が生じうる際の、最も初期の段階の、初期リンパ管とがん細胞の移行のメカニズムを明らかにするための重要な基盤データが得られた。これにより十二指腸乳頭部においては、リンパ管へのがん転移が生じやすい微小環境にあることが明らかとなった。このことは、十二指腸乳頭部癌に対しての手術治療を含めた至適治療戦略を立てる上で重要な意義をもっている。