Visualization of Cholangiocarcinoma Targeting Claudin 18.2 by Near-Infrared Fluorescently Labeled Antibody

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08715
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kyuno Daisuke 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70563485)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高澤 啓 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (00593021) ; 木村 康利 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80311893)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 胆道癌 / claudin-18.2 / 術中ナビゲーション技術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel technique for labeling claudin-18.2 in cholangiocarcinoma cells to visualize the extent of cholangiocarcinoma progression.
In resected tissue, claudin-18 expression was found on cell membranes in cholangiocarcinoma and BilIN, whereas expression was absent in the normal bile duct epithelium. Claudin-18 was highly expressed in well-differentiated carcinomas, and there was no difference in claudin-18 expression between carcinomas and BilINs. In vitro experiments have shown that claudin-18.2 is expressed on the surface of certain cholangiocarcinoma cell lines and is overexpressed in migrating cells. Several original and commercially available antibodies were used in the experiments, and we identified antibodies that bind to the membrane of cancer cells.

Free Research Field

腫瘍病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Claudin-18.2は胆道の癌細胞や異型上皮において高発現し、正常上皮細胞との鑑別に有用であることが示された。この研究成果は、蛍光染色技術などと組み合わせることにより、胆道癌の診断および手術中のナビゲーション技術の進歩に貢献すると期待される。また、claudin-18.2が腫瘍先進部に発現していた事実などをもとに、発現機構の解析と発現パターンの解明を進めることで、発癌機構の解明や胆道癌の切除支援による治療成績の向上に繋がる可能性がある。さらに、癌細胞特有の発現プロファイルを利用した新たな治療法の開発にも寄与することが予想される。