Novel and Innovative Treatment Strategies for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16815
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuoka Hirofumi 岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (60835057)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 子宮平滑筋肉腫 / ケモカイン / 免疫チェックポイント阻害剤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a mesenchymal malignancy that originates from the smooth muscle of the uterus and accounts for only about 3% of all uterine malignancies, making it a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Our research group has attempted to develop innovative novel therapeutic strategies focusing on the epigenetics of uterine leiomyosarcoma. We examined immunohistochemical and histopathological data of chemokine receptors in existing specimens of uterine leiomyosarcoma and their prognosis. Genetic mutations in uterine leiomyosarcoma cell lines were identified by PCR. As a result, we found high levels of chemokine CXCR3 in the uterine leiomyosarcoma cell line and high expression of CXCR3 receptors in immunohistochemistry of the area containing leiomyosarcoma in the patient's specimen.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

子宮平滑筋肉腫は子宮平滑筋を発生母地とする間葉系悪性腫瘍であり、全子宮悪性腫瘍に占める割合は3%程度と稀少疾患であり予後不良である。薬剤選択や治療予後予測における確立したバイオマーカーが存在しないという問題点がある。また、遺伝子変異量が低い子宮平滑筋肉腫では、免疫チェックポイント阻害剤も十分な治療効果を上げていない。我々の研究グループでは子宮平滑筋肉腫のケモカインレセプターに着目し、子宮平滑筋肉腫細胞株においてケモカインCXCR3の高値を認めることと、患者検体の平滑筋肉腫を含む部位の免疫組織染色においても、CXCR3受容体の発現が多く認められことを確認した。