Development of new pancreatic cancer marker by using Lectin Microarray

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18132
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Nakano Yutaka 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (70770832)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / レクチン / バイオマーカー / エクソソーム / マイクロアレイ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed the dierential glycomic profiling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from serum using lectin microarray. The glyco-candidates of PC-specific EVs were quantified using a high-sensitive exosome-counting system, ExoCounter. An absolute quantification system for altered glycan-containing EVs elevated in PC serum was established. EVs recognized by O-glycan-binding lectins ABA or ACA were identified as candidate markers by lectin microarray. Quantitative analyses using ExoCounter revealed that the ABA- or ACA-positive EVs were significantly increased in the culture of PC cell lines or in the serum of PC patients including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 negative patients with high area under curve values. Histological examination confirmed that the tumors stained with ABA/ACA. These specific EVs with O-glycans recognized by ABA/ACA are elevated in PC sera and can act as potential biomarkers in a liquid biopsy for PC patients screening.

Free Research Field

膵癌Liquid Biopsy

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで膵癌由来エクソソーム表面の糖鎖解析やレクチンを用いたエクソソーム数の測定については報告がなく、本研究が初めての報告である。さらに本研究方法は他疾患に応用可能であるため、癌研究領域のみならず様々な分野でのバイオマーカー探索にインパクトを与えたと考える。そして今回確立したエクソソーム数計測系はわずか12.5μLの検体から合計3時間半で解析可能である点で実用的である。