Development of cancer immunotherapy for urothelial carcinoma targeting tissue infiltrating regulatory T cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09709
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: KAWASHIMA ATSUNARI 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (50746568)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 野々村 祝夫 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (30263263) ; 和田 尚 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 特任教授(常勤) (70243459)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 膀胱癌 / シングルセルシークエンス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the expression and therapeutic significance of CCR8, a specific surface molecule of regulatory T cells infiltrating into cancer tissues. By single cell sequencing, we reconfirmed that CCR8 is a highly specific molecule as a tissue-infiltrating regulatory T cells in bladder cancer as well as in renal cell carcinoma and lung cancer. On the other hand, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) bladder cancer group data showed that CCR8 expression was not a prognostic factor. The usefulness of therapeutic antibodies targeting CCR8 was reported one after another by other groups confirming its importance as a therapeutic target, and further investigation into the mechanism of carcinogenesis is expected.

Free Research Field

癌免疫学、泌尿器腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

癌組織内浸潤制御性T細胞の特異的表面分子であるCCR8の発現と治療的意義を明らかにすることを当研究の目的とした。シングルセルシークエンスにより、腎細胞癌や肺癌と同様に、膀胱癌でもCCR8は組織内制御性T細胞として特異性が高い分子であることを再確認した。一方、The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) 膀胱癌群のデータでは、CCR8の発現が予後予測因子にはならなかった。CCR8を標的とした治療抗体の有用性が同時期に他グループから次々と報告され、治療薬の臨床応用が期待される。