Patient-oriented Immunooncology with Patient-derived Xenograft model and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17754
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55040:Respiratory surgery-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUMURA Yuki 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30747225)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: がん免疫療法 / 肺癌 / 腫瘍浸潤リンパ球

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop an effect prediction model of cancer immunotherapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and patient-derived xenograft. Tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were isolated from the surgically resected lung cancer tissue and they were co-cultured with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Interferon-γ activity was assessed.
We confirmed that the activity of interferon γ due to the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors was variable to each patient, and that the overall trend of the activity of interferon γ was increased in the immune checkpoint inhibitors group, compared with the control group. We plan to compare responses in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がん免疫療法の導入により本邦のがん治療は大きく変化した。しかしながら同治療の課題として非常に高価である点と効果予測の困難な点が挙げられる。これまでも遺伝子変異量，PD-L1発現率，喫煙歴，EGFR遺伝子変異の有無などが報告されてきたが，これらの因子ががん免疫療法の効果と強く相関するとは言えず，より確実で信頼性のある効果予測因子やモデルが求められている。本研究成果における免疫チェックポイント阻害薬投与によるインターフェロンγの活性度の増減が, 実際の免疫チェックポイント阻害剤の治療効果と関連していれば, 症例より効果の期待できる患者に選択的にがん免疫療法を適応させることが期待される。