Biological activity and potential role of laminin-gamma2 as a novel biomarker for pancreatic ductal carcinoma

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07812
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: St. Marianna University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Yasuda Hiroshi 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80262129)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山本 博幸 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (40332910)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 胆道癌 / バイオマーカー / ラミニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Laminin (Ln)-332 consists of α3, β3, and γ2 chains, which mediates epithelial cell adhesion to the basement membrane. Ln-γ2, a component of Ln-332, is frequently expressed as a monomer in the invasion front of several types of gastrointestinal cancers without simultaneous expression of Ln-α3 and/or Ln-β3 chains. Monomeric Ln-γ2 induces tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro. We investigated the usefulness of Ln-γ2 as a biomarker in diagnosing pancreatic cancer and biliary tract cancer. IHC of Ln-γ2, serum Ln-γ2 ELISA measurement, and WB analysis of Ln-γ2 in bile were performed in 14 surgically treated biliary tract cancer cases in which endoscopically bile collection was pperformed before surgery. IHC (38%), ELISA (43%), and WB (64%) were positive for Ln-γ2, respectively, and may be useful as biomarkers for pancreatobiliary tract neoplasia.

Free Research Field

腫瘍マーカー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

難治癌である膵胆道癌の罹患率は特に高齢者で増加しており、2018年の死亡数は5万人であり新たなスクリーニング法の確立が急務である。ラミニン332 の構成成分であるラミニンγ2（Ln-γ2）単鎖は、様々な消化器癌の先進部分で特異的に発現することが報告されており、本研究は膵胆道癌の早期発見の一助となる可能性がある。