The development of a simple screening device for early detection of pancreatic cancer based on the salivary metabolome analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17703
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Tomita Koichi 東京医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (10647267)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 膵臓癌 / 膵癌 / 早期発見 / 唾液 / メタボローム / メタボロミクス / ポリアミン / 検査キット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we attempted to develop a novel salivary metabolomics-based test kit aimed at the early detection of pancreatic cancer, which has an extremely poor prognosis. Using an experimental test kit created with the cooperation of research collaborators, measurements were conducted on actual clinical pancreatic cancer patients. As a result, it was found that the test kit alone could diagnose pancreatic cancer. Additionally, there was little correlation between the conventional tumor marker values and the absorbance of the kit, indicating new diagnostic significance. It was also discovered that by setting various cutoff values for the absorbance of the test kit, the diagnostic performance could be improved according to individual clinical conditions. Furthermore, there is a potential for application in assessing disease progression during chemotherapy. Based on these results, we are considering conducting clinical trials overseas in the future.

Free Research Field

膵臓癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

膵臓癌は悪性疾患の中で最も治療成績が悪く、本邦では5年生存率が10%を下回る。その原因は症状に乏しく早期発見が困難で、診断時には既に進行しており切除ができない場合が少なくない。また切除に至った場合でも再発率が非常に高く根治が難しい。そのため外科的切除と化学療法の両方が治療に重要であるが、いずれにおいても治療成績の向上のためには早期発見が最も重要である。現在までに様々な研究が行われているが、信頼性とコストの面から確立されたスクリーニング方法はまだない。本研究により膵臓癌の早期発見が高い信頼性と低コストで可能になれば、国内外を問わず膵臓癌の治療成績が一気に向上する可能性がある。