Non-classical monocyte in childhood cancer progression

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16872
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University (2022); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Akihiro Tamura 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 特命講師 (90841180)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マクロファージ / C/EBPβ / SIRPα / 小児がん / 神経芽腫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that peripheral blood monocyte counts at diagnosis strongly correlated with the long-term prognosis of neuroblastoma. Therefore, subsequent studies have focused on neuroblastoma. Our previous studies have shown that monocyte/macrophage infiltration density is higher in high-risk groups in neuroblastoma, a major cause of death in childhood cancer. Further, it has been shown that the CD47-SIRPα signaling system inhibits phagocytosis of cancer cells by monocytes/macrophages. Therefore, we aimed to characterize monocytes/macrophages involved in the malignant potential of neuroblastoma. Using immunohistochemical staining, we found that monocytes/macrophages infiltrating neuroblastoma express high levels of SIRPα and that neuroblastoma cells express CD47.　Therefore, we found that targeting SIRPα could be a treatment for neuroblastoma.

Free Research Field

小児血液腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、SIRPαを標的とすることで小児の難治性疾患である神経芽腫の治療となり得ることを見出しており、新規治療開発から患者予後改善につながる可能性があり、社会的意義が大きい。