Efforts to Improve Cure Rates Through Understanding the Pathophysiology of Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08867
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54010:Hematology and medical oncology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Koga Yuhki 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (60398071)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小野 宏彰 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (80839051)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ホジキンリンパ腫 / 免疫不全

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare disease in Japan, with approximately 20 cases reported annually. The ABVD therapy has long been established as the standard treatment, achieving a high survival rate of over 90% when combined with radiotherapy. However, serious issues such as late-onset complications, including secondary cancers and gonadal dysfunction, necessitate the development of new treatment strategies aimed at reducing these risks. The RS cells characteristic of HL promote various bystander cells suppressively, creating a unique cancer microenvironment with distinct cellular immunological properties. In this study, we utilized valuable clinical samples of pediatric HL collected through the clinical research of the Japanese Pediatric Cancer Group to elucidate the pathophysiology of the microenvironment related to HRS cell proliferation and conducted immunodeficiency screening.

Free Research Field

小児がん

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

1. 個々に適した治療戦略を遂行するために新たな予後予測因子を同定する、2. 患児における細胞性免疫不全（腫瘍監視機構の機能不全）の病態を解析する。これら解明により、二次がん発症などの晩期合併症リスク軽減につながる可能性があり、小児HL治療成績の向上が望める。さらにこれまでに明らかにされなかったHL細胞性免疫不全の解析は、小児HLに限らず、他小児希少がんの病態解明に寄与するものと期待される。