Development of an early diagnosis method for esophageal cancer using liquid biopsy based on glycan-lectin reaction

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18078
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Ogawa Koichi 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 講師 (20733637)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 食道癌 / レクチン / リキッドバイオプシー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We focused on liquid biopsy as an early diagnosis method for esophageal cancer and examined the applicability of glycan-lectin reaction. Using 24 surgical specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we comprehensively searched for cancer-specific glycan-lectin combinations and identified UAE1, which binds to α1-2FUC (glycan), as a candidate lectin. Then, we performed lectin blotting with UAE1 lectin using sera from esophageal cancer patients and healthy subjects, and could not detect any specific reaction to esophageal cancer. Although it is highly likely that UAE1 is an esophageal cancer-specific lectin, further studies are needed to validate it as a potential therapeutic biomarker and target.

Free Research Field

消化器外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食道癌は難治性癌の代表例であり、早期診断・早期治療に勝る治療法はない。癌細胞表面には特徴的な修飾を受けた癌特異的な糖鎖が発現しており、発癌初期から血中や唾液中に糖鎖の構造物が遊離している可能性が高いと考えた。本研究では食道癌に特異的なα1-2FUC(糖鎖)-UAE1(レクチン)を同定することができたが、癌患者の血清中の発現を確認することは出来なかった。検出力を高めるため、またより特異性の高い候補レクチンの探索などさらなる検討を要するが、糖鎖レクチン反応を用いたリキッドバイオプシー臨床応用への足掛かりを得ることができた。