Monitoring tumor burden using liquid biopsy for esophageal cancer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15563
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Satoru Matsuda 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (30594725)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 食道癌 / リキッドバイオプシー / ctDNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The ctDNA was examined in patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone surgery after preoperative chemotherapy at our institution. As a result, ctDNA was detected for TP53 and other mutations that are frequently present in primary tumours of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, the presence or absence of ctDNA at 1-3 months post-operatively was shown to sensitively reflect early recurrence. We believe that these results demonstrate the usefulness of ctDNA as a tumour monitoring method in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
For tumour monitoring using urinary miRNAs, urine was processed using a microfluidic device, and miRNA expression was comprehensively analysed by microarray in healthy subjects/advanced/early-stage cancers respectively. As a result, 15 miRNAs whose expression increased along a tumour burden were captured. This study suggests that it might be possible to determine the presence or absence of tumours using urinary miRNA profiles.

Free Research Field

食道癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食道癌における腫瘍モニタリング手法の開発に有用な評価方法の開発に成功した。本手法の精度をさらに向上させていくことにより、薬物療法奏効例への手術回避戦略の実現が可能となると考えている。