Application of Comprehensive Single-cell Analysis Technology for Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Adenomas

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07653
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Iwabuchi Sadahiro 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部・先端医学研究所, 講師 (80597922)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 本多 政夫 金沢大学, 保健学系, 教授 (00272980)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞腺腫 / 肝細胞癌 / 1細胞遺伝子発現解析 / PLA2G2A

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign tumor and statistically associated with a 4.7-10% conversion to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). If the diagnosing physician is unable to distinguish between them, a liver resection is performed as if the patient was suspected of having HCC. Therefore, the new biomarkers characteristic of HCA are needed to choose appropriate conservative therapy without invasive surgery.
In this study, we performed single-cell analysis for fresh HCA and HCC tissues to identify new HCA markers such as PLA2G2A. In addition, paraffin-embedded fixed specimens of previous cases diagnosed as HCA were stained with PLA2G2A antibody for validation. Thus, these genes might be the candidate for new biomarkers of HCA.

Free Research Field

1細胞遺伝子発現解析、腫瘍免疫、神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現状は造影MRI診断などから腫瘍サイズが5cm以上と大きい場合、肝細胞腺腫疑いと診断されても肝生検をせずに肝細胞癌へのリスクがある10%程度の可能性を考慮して肝切除が優先される。悪性度の低い肝細胞腺腫であれば、肝切除を回避して亜型毎の温存治療 (経口避妊薬の場合は中止など)も提示でき、肝切除対象のケースでも根治するためにHCCリスクへの予防遺伝子治療などに期待できる。
今後は本研究成果で見出した新規HCAマーカー候補を新たに診断されるHCA疑い症例に対して遺伝子発現解析や免疫組織化学的染色などで更に詳細に調べることで、再検証する。