Examination of immunotherapy improvement through CD8+ T cell induction of refractory hepatocellular carcinoma and, construction of biomarkers.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07899
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: Chuma Makoto 横浜市立大学, 附属市民総合医療センター, 准教授 (30360910)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 前田 愼 横浜市立大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (40415956) ; 魚嶋 晴紀 北里大学, 医学部, 講師 (20752869)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞癌 / 免疫チェックポイント阻害剤 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aims of this study were to identify clinically significant biomarkers of a response to combined immunotherapy therapy and to develop target strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examination of immunotherapy improvement through CD8+ T cell induction of HCC. CD8+ T-cell induction in HCC did not improve combined immunotherapy. Although no ctDNA mutations in blood were found to be related to combined immunotherapy therapy efficacy, serum CXCL9 and LAG-3 levels, which are related to the cancer immune cycle, were associated with treatment efficacy and could be predictive markers of the efficacy of combined immunotherapy therapy in HCC patients.

Free Research Field

消化器病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究より、複合免疫療法の治療効果に関して、がんの免疫サイクルにおけるケモカインが有用なマーカーである事が示され、HCCにおける複数の化学療法において、バイオマーカーに基づく個別化医療への橋渡しが期待される。