Analysis of molecular complexes expressed in extracellular vesicles for cancer diagnosis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06663
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kotani Norihiro 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90342782)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 冨田 昌弘 三重大学, 工学研究科, 特任教授(研究担当) (20183494)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Proximity Labeling / Extracellular Vesicles / EMARS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that Extracellular Vesicles (hereinafter referred to as EVs) secreted into the blood from mouse lung cancer cells express CHL1 molecules, suggesting that CHL1 expressed in EVs may be candidates for lung cancer tumor markers. With the aim of establishing more accurate tumor markers, we have had an idea to "define" cancer EVs using expressed two or more protein antigens.
In this study, we applied one of a Proximity labeling strategy called "EMARS" to label and identify a group of molecules that associate with CHL1 in EVs. We then found that serum EVs from lung cancer patients were highly expressed both CHL1 and caspase14.

Free Research Field

生化学・分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血液中のEVは採血などの低侵襲な医療行為で採取することが可能であり、本研究成果により、EVを使用したより高精度・高感度な腫瘍マーカーが開発されることで、血液検査等の日常の健康診断レベルでがん診断ができる可能性がある。