Characterization of immune responses in tumor microenvironment of patients with clonal hematopoiesis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07152
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Isobe Taichi 九州大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (30838727)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 菊繁 吉謙 九州大学, 大学病院, 講師 (40619706)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: クローン性造血 / 大腸がん / 腫瘍免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In solid cancers, the coexistence of clonal hematopoiesis with aging is a poor prognostic factor. To elucidate its mechanism, this study aims to analyze genetic mutations in each fraction of leukocytes in both blood and tumor tissue, clarifying the relationship between clonal hematopoiesis and immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. As a result of our analyses, genetic mutations were identified in some immune cells present in both blood and tumor tissue. Currently, functional analysis of leukocytes with identified mutations is being conducted in vitro.

Free Research Field

がん

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

固形がんにおいて加齢に伴うクローン性造血の合併は予後不良因子である。今回我々の白血球画分ごとに細胞を選別した上ての解析の結果、血中及び腫瘍組織中に存在する免疫細胞の一部に遺伝子変異を認めることを確認した。現在行っている機能解析により、クローン性造血由来の免疫細胞が腫瘍進展を制御できない機序を明らかにできれば、クローン性造血を標的としたがん治療の開発の足掛かりとなることが期待される。