Identification of tumor immune microenvironment properties involved in the development and progression of follicular thyroid carcinoma

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23893
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0901:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: ohmura gaku 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (20516182)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 甲状腺癌 / 甲状腺濾胞癌 / イメージング / 腫瘍免疫 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed the immune mechanisms that may be involved in the development and progression of thyroid follicular carcinoma by examining the distribution of immune cells in tissues, and aimed to establish tissue biomarkers that may contribute to the early diagnosis and elucidate the carcinogenic mechanism of thyroid follicular carcinoma. As originally planned, we examined the immune microenvironment in follicular carcinoma nests and surrounding non-cancer areas, and quantified it by multiple immunostaining and digital image analysis. The results suggested the existence of specific immune microenvironmental properties in the invasive margin of the follicular carcinoma. Furthermore, we analyzed the properties of the immune microenvironment in the invasive margin of the follicular carcinoma and confirmed the differences between the tumor center and the non-invasive margin.

Free Research Field

頭頸部癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本手法の原法は1978年に報告されているが(Tramu G et al. J Histochem Cytochem 1978)、様々な染色・抗体除去手順の最適化やデジタル画像解析技術の併用で、従来の方法では実現困難であった低コストでの多重染色技術を確立した。 本研究では甲状腺濾胞癌の皮膜浸潤部における免疫微小環境特性を解析し、腫瘍中心部や非浸潤辺縁部との差異を確認した。これらの解析を進めることで、甲状腺濾胞癌の早期診断や発癌機序の解明に寄与することが期待できる。