Diagnostics using pancreatic fluid organoids in pancreatic IPMN and its application to drug discovery research

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16995
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: Kurita Yusuke 横浜市立大学, 附属病院, 助教 (30867015)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オルガノイド / IPMN / KRAS / GNAS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, the usefulness of organoids, a three-dimensional culture system that amplifies cells in a structure very similar to in vivo tissues and organs, has been reported. In this study, we attempted to establish a highly sensitive pathological diagnosis method for IPMN by using IPMN organoid cell lines cultured from pancreatic fluid collected by ERCP. It is suggested that increasing the number of cells of the same type by organoids may be useful for diagnosis. We are also continuing genetic analysis of the collected organoid cultures. We continue to identify novel therapeutic agents consisting of chemopreventive agents for benign IPMN and antitumor agents for malignant IPMN.

Free Research Field

消化器病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

IPMNオルガノイド細胞株を使用し、高感度の病理診断法の確立を試みている。通常ERCPによる細胞採取は限られた量であることが多いが、オルガノイドにより同型の細胞を増やすことで病理学的な診断に有用となる可能性が示唆される。また採取したオルガノイド培養株から継続して遺伝子解析を行っている。引き続き良性IPMNの化学予防薬剤と、悪性IPMNに対する抗腫瘍薬剤からなる新規治療薬剤の同定を目指している。ERCPによる少量の細胞採取では不可能とされてきた遺伝子解析や新規治療薬剤の同定が可能となる可能性が示唆される。