Basic research of circulating tumor cells in head and neck cancer

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18763
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: UENO TAKAYOSHI 金沢大学, 附属病院, 助教 (30623649)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In head and neck cancer, CTC and CTM could be detected using microfluidic chips. The surface antigen markers were diverse, and it was confirmed that CTC and CTM contain tumor cells of various characteristics, just as there is heterogeneity in tumor cells in primary tumors. Although the surface antigen markers of CTM may provide clues to identify more malignant CTC, these markers account for only a few percent of all CTC, and it is necessary to collect CTC from a large number of patients and examine the surface antigens of CTM.

Free Research Field

頭頸部癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は、マイクロ流路チップにて頭頸部癌におけるCTCとCTMの検出が可能であること、またそのヘテロ不均一性を明らかにした。本研究で使用したマイクロ流路チップでは、7.5mlの血液からCTCは数個から数十個であり、CTMの割合はCTCの数％程度であることが判明した。今後、症例数を増やしてCTMの表面抗原マーカーを調べることで、より悪性度の高いCTCを特徴づける表面抗原マーカーを同定できる可能性が示唆された。