Development of urological cancer-specific serum markers through comprehensive serum microelement profiling

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16737
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Kimura Tomokazu 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (10633191)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 泌尿器科学 / 微量元素 / 診断補助マーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we measured 17 types of trace elements in serum using the ICP-MS method, elements that exist in the human body and may be associated with various diseases, and confirmed the possibility of differing trace element profiles among diseases. Furthermore, we found that these profiles can also vary due to diurnal changes, age, gender, and lifestyle, and we have constructed a comprehensive database of trace element profiles using serum from over 8,000 healthy individuals and cancer patients. Additionally, the importance of trace element profiles in benign urological diseases has been recognized, prompting continued research. We are aiming to develop more accurate disease-specific diagnostic methods using machine learning techniques, including the k-medoids method.

Free Research Field

泌尿器科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

癌をはじめとした疾患における個別の微量元素測定という研究は従来からあるが、単一元素のみではマーカーとしての価値が見いだせていなかった。本研究では、多数の微量元素を網羅的に測定し、さらに機械学習の手法を用いることで新たな疾患の診断補助マーカーの開発につながることが期待される。