Analysis of liver cancer recurrence in patients after improvement of liver inflammation using mice model

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07990
• 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: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022-2023); Osaka City University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Tamori Akihiro 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 特任教授 (30291595)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松原 三佐子 (佐藤三佐子) 大阪公立大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 准教授 (00635120) ; 田中 肖吾 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 客員研究員 (50382114)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞癌 / 再発 / 転移 / 動物モデル / 脾臓 / 臨床マーカー / HCV / HBV

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to acquire new insights into the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment by mutually utilizing clinical data and animal models. First, we analyzed prognostic factors of 1180 cases, including HCV-positive HCC cases, from clinical data, and found that more than 50% of patients experienced HCC recurrence within 3 years after achieving HCV RNA negativity.
In the basic research, we created a model by administering Luciferase-positive Hepa1-6 cells (1x10^6) to mice to induce tumor formation in the liver. There was a significant difference in tumor engraftment rates in the liver between groups that underwent splenectomy after Hepa1-6 cell administration and those that did not (no splenectomy: <30%, splenectomy: >95%). This suggests the potential involvement of the spleen in HCC engraftment in the liver.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肝細胞癌の要因である肝炎ウイルスを完全に排除しても一度発癌した患者では肝癌が発生するリスクが高い事が再検証された。また培養肝癌細胞をマウスへ投与する研究から癌細胞が肝臓に生着する病態に脾臓が関与している事が推測された。今後、肝癌の転移や再発を制御する脾臓由来因子を同定できるものと考える。