Roles of the tumor immune microenvironment in laryngeal papilloma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Kurita Takashi 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (20569355)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 喉頭乳頭腫 / ヒトパピローマウイルス / 細胞性免疫 / 腫瘍免疫微小環境 / 免疫チェックポイント関連分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) regulates tumor regression and progression. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between the TIME and recurrence of laryngeal papilloma. Immunohistochemistry for surgically resected papilloma specimens was performed for CD8 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte marker), PD-1 and PD-L1 (immune checkpoints-related molecules), and Foxp3 (regulatory T lymphocyte marker). The staining results shows that the numbers of intratumoral CD8+ and Foxp3+ cells as well as subepithelial CD8+, Foxp3+, and PD-1+ cells in patients with recurrence were significantly lower than those in patients without recurrence, statistically. This study reveals that the TIME of laryngeal papilloma differs between groups with and without recurrence. This difference　may contribute to the mechanism of papilloma development and recurrence.

Free Research Field

喉頭科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

再発性の喉頭乳頭腫症に対しては、現在の主治療である手術のみでは再発を制御することが難しいため、薬物等での補助療法を確立することが求められている。本研究は喉頭乳頭腫における局所の腫瘍免疫について明らかにしたものであり、喉頭乳頭腫症に対する新たな治療法の開発に寄与しうる知見である。本研究で得られた結果をもとに、今後は乳頭腫に対する局所免疫に着目した治療法の開発につなげていくことが望まれる。