Analysis of CD4+FOXP3+ cells infiltrating colorectal tumors using CyTOF and their relationship to prognosis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09079
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIDA Shin 山口大学, 医学部, 特別医学研究員 (60554805)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 硲 彰一 山口大学, 医学部, 特別医学研究員 (50253159) ; 鈴木 伸明 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (50526910) ; 友近 忍 山口大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (30403679) ; 徐 明 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 学術研究員(寄附金) (40645503) ; 中上 裕有樹 下関市立大学, 経済学部, 准教授 (30843304)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸癌 / 腫瘍浸潤リンパ球 / マスサイトメトリー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We were unable to elucidate in detail the respective cellular functions of colorectal cancer tumor-infiltrating CD4+ cells and FOXP3+ cells. Results were obtained from studies analyzing the relationship between local immunity and systemic inflammation. It has been previously reported that IL-6 levels in colorectal cancer tissue strongly correlate with serum IL-6 levels. However, it was unclear whether tumor cells or stromal cells have a stronger effect on blood IL-6. The present study using CyTOF showed a significant correlation between stromal cells and serum IL-6 concentration in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, we found that high IL-6 expression in tumor-infiltrating cells is associated with a high concentration of immunosuppressive cells, which may contribute to a poor prognosis.

Free Research Field

癌免疫

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で、大腸癌における間質細胞と血中IL-6濃度に有意な相関を認め、さらに腫瘍浸潤細胞におけるIL-6高発現は抑制性の免疫細胞(MDSC、effector制御性T細胞)の高集積と関連があり、予後不良の一因となっている可能性があるという新たな知見が得られた。大腸癌に対する治療戦略をたてる上で、本研究がその一助となる可能性がある。