Investigation of the specific biomarkers for elucidation of the tumor microenvironment using multiplex immunohistochemistry in oral cancer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18736
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: KAWASHIMA RIE 自治医科大学, 医学部, 客員研究員 (10814444)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔癌 / 腫瘍微小環境 / 免疫組織化学染色

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We established the tumor microenvironment panel for the multiplex immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in a paraffin section of each oral cancer patient. Our aim of this study is to analysis the comprehensive pathological tumor microenvironment in oral cancer patients.
Our panel is including the marker of lymphocytes, myeloid cells, T cell classification, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and desmoplastic reaction. To comprehend tumor immune microenvironment in each patient of a different reaction to the treatment leads to the personalized cancer treatment. By using this new panel for the multiplex IHC, we believe that it enables to discover the specific marker for the cancer treatment selection and prognostic prediction in the near future.

Free Research Field

口腔癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔癌における腫瘍微小環境の病理組織学的網羅的解析を行うことで、癌の発生制御、適切な治療選択、転移制御を可能とするバイオマーカーを特定し、口腔癌の生存率向上を目指すことを目的に、本研究を開始した。腫瘍微小環境評価パネルの確立は、目的に応じターゲットとする細胞/分子を自由に選択でき、将来的に口腔癌のみならず様々な疾患に応用可能である。また臨床応用を考え、重複する試薬のコストダウンが見込める点、蛍光免疫染色と比較し染色手技が比較的簡便で蛍光顕微鏡などコストのかかる設備投資が必要ない点、入手可能なソフトウェア上で定量解析を行う点でも実用化しやすく、社会的意義が非常に高いと考える。