Leptomeningeal metastasis and liquid biopsy for medulloblastoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08345
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kijima Noriyuki 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (80534627)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 金村 米博 独立行政法人国立病院機構大阪医療センター(臨床研究センター), その他部局等, 機関長・部門長クラス (80344175)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 髄芽腫 / 髄膜播種 / リキッドバイオプシー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we first injected patient-derived medulloblastoma cells into the brains of immunodeficient mice and examined the frequency of leptomeningeal and hematogenous metastasis. We found that both leptomeningeal and hematogenous metastasis frequently occurs in medulloblastoma. Next, we isolated the tumor cells from primary tumor and metastasis from mice. RNA was extracted from each organ and identified the molecules whose expression was increased compared to the primary tumor using RNA sequencing. Furthermore, we also aim to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from tumor cells, their blood, and cerebrospinal fluid from mice. Although it was possible to extract tumor cells and RNA from cerebrospinal fluid, it was difficult to extract CTCs and RNA in the blood.

Free Research Field

脳腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により髄芽腫の髄膜播種に関与する標的分子が同定され、この標的分子を標的とした治療方法の開発につながることが期待される。また髄液中からの腫瘍細胞の採取は可能であるが、血液中からの腫瘍細胞の採取は困難であることから、こちらを用いたリキッドバイオプシーについては今後さらなる改良が必要であることが示唆された。