Elucidating the natural history of cfDNA and its impact on anti-tumor immunity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16448
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Nakashima Chiho 佐賀大学, 医学部附属病院, 病院助教 (40858502)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: cfDNA / 非小細胞肺癌 / 免疫チェックポイント阻害薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since circulating plasma DNA (cfDNA) was detected at high concentrations in the peripheral blood of patients with carcinoma, it was assumed that these DNAs may act as DAMPs and contribute to systemic inflammation. Therefore, we retrospectively examined the association of cfDNA size and concentration with white blood cell count, CRP, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, and presence of immune-related adverse events in 33 patients with advanced-stage lung cancer, but no significant correlation was found. We need to go back to local tumor analysis. We currently examine the relationship between the microenvironment and tumor gene abnormalities using the Boston Gene tumor portrait and the Cancer Pathway Index.

Free Research Field

Non-small cell lung cancer

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

担癌状態で生じる高炎症状態は必ずしも循環血漿DNA濃度の増加とは相関していなかった。また、循環血漿DNA濃度の多寡で免疫チェックポイント阻害薬の効果を予測することは困難であった。腫瘍局所での炎症状態について検討する必要があると考えられ、現在、免疫微小環境解析を用いた検討を行っている。