Is CLDN12 a novel biomarker or a novel target for cervical cancer and endometrial cancer?

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18224
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Endo Yuta 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00868896)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 子宮頸癌 / 子宮体癌 / 細胞接着 / クローディン / がん診断マーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications.　We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in cervical cancer tissues. The disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients. It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

クローディン12低発現が子宮頸癌の予後不良因子であることを明らかにした。新規の抗クローディン12モノクローナル抗体は、多様ながん種や他の疾患におけるクローディン12発現の生物学的関連性を評価するために有用であると考えられる。近年、他のクローディンファミリーのがん診断マーカーとしての有用性も示されており、抗体カクテルや抗体パネルによる層別化や新規の治療標的への応用が期待される。