Exploration of immunological markers in liver cancer treatment focusing on HLA molecules and PD-1 pathway

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16954
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Hidetaka Matsuda 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門(附属病院部), 講師 (20464084)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞癌 / 微小環境 / 循環腫瘍細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to become more diversified, it is important to select an efficient therapy. In this study, we analyzed the immunological microenvironment and cytokine dynamics over time in HCC cases with the aim of identifying markers useful for predicting therapeutic efficacy. The results suggest that the composition of the immunomodulatory intratumor microenvironment differs between hepatitis C virus-infected and post-virus eliminated cases. In addition, stemness of circulating tumor cells was shown to be a potentially useful biomarker for predicting therapeutic efficacy and cancer progression.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肝細胞癌（HCC）は背景肝の状態により、腫瘍内微小環境の免疫学的組成が異なる可能性が確認され、HCC治療における個々の結節の特性を踏まえたテーラーメイド医療を構築する重要性が示唆された。また、循環腫瘍細胞解析がHCC治療効果やがん進展の予測に有用なバイオマーカーとなる可能性も示された。本研究の成果の応用により、HCCの生物学的多様性を踏まえた効率的な治療法選択が可能となることが期待される。