Antitumor immune response in patients with endometrial cancer from the perspective of uterine Ecosystem

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09778
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Shiro 愛知県がんセンター(研究所), 腫瘍免疫応答研究分野, 研究員 (20612758)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腫瘍免疫 / 子宮体がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study focused on the anti-tumor immune response of uterine tumors by localization. Clinical specimens were used in the study.
We found a cluster of peritumoral lymphocytes with band-like structures (PLB) in the forefront of endometrial cancer and analyzed their association with the clinical outcome. In comparison with type I endometrial cancer, PLB was found in many cases of type II endometrial cancer. PLB in type II endometrial cancer show a strong association with fatal outcome. The infiltration of CD8-positive T cells in endometrial cancer was classified into three patterns: Inflamed, Desert and Excluded type. Furthermore, the results of FACS analysis suggest that a factor in the inability of CD8-positive T cells to infiltrate the tumor centre in Excluded types may be related to the presence of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells with higher CTLA-4 expression compared to Inflamed types.

Free Research Field

婦人科がん

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

TypeⅠとTypeⅡ子宮体がんでは腫瘍浸潤境界における応答（PLBが形成されない原因等）は異なると考えられるが、今後、子宮におけるPLB誘導のメカニズムを解明することで、宿主側への適切な介入を行い腫瘍局所へ効率的にエフェクター細胞を浸潤・集積させうる免疫療法の開発に結び付く可能性がある。また、子宮腫瘍に対する腫瘍局所の免疫応答を子宮Ecosystemという観点から捉える基礎研究を引き続き実施することによって、子宮がんの病態解明にも寄与することと考えられる。