Molecular genetic study of melanoma "like" cells and identification of novel cancer-related genes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16202
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Noto Mai 秋田大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (10738462)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: メラノーマ / メラノーマ「様」細胞 / SOX10 / メラノサイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

When additional resection is performed after the initial resection of skin melanoma, even though the melanoma lesion has been completely removed, we occasionally detect melanoma-like cells in the additional resection lesion. We collected cases which melanoma had been resected in two stages in the past in our department and reexamined the histopathological images and tailed up the number of cases in which melanoma-like cells were observed. Using specimens in which melanoma-like cells were observed, we immunohistochemically confirmed that the cells were actually melanocytes and some of the cases were likely melanoma.

Free Research Field

皮膚悪性腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

メラノーマは悪性度が非常に高く、外科的に完全切除できない場合予後は不良となる。そのため、メラノーマ病変を適切に完全切除し、局所再発を生じないようにすることは臨床的意義が高い。今回、私たちはメラノーマ完全切除後の皮膚に存在するメラノーマ「様」細胞がメラノーマである可能性を見出した。このメラノーマ「様」細胞の発見により、過去の症例をさらに分析し、メラノーマの切除マージンの再検討や、外科的治療の精度を上げることにつながると考える。