Tumor microenvironment analysis with consideration to subclassification and backgrounds to establish appropriate treatment strategies for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16495
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Kinoshita Masahiko 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 病院講師 (30896303)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肝内胆管癌 / 腫瘍微小環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated a clinicopathological study of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in each subclassification (small/large duct type) and compared the characteristics of the two subclasses. The results revealed that incidences of lymph node metastasis and hilar vascular invasion were significantly higher in the large duct type, suggesting that the optimal surgical treatment strategy for each subclassification may differ. Tumor microenvironment analysis revealed that some patients with small duct type showed a high degree of cancer immunodeficiency due to antigen presentation by dendritic cells. This suggests that optimal drug treatment strategies may be different for each subclassification.

Free Research Field

肝胆膵外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

WHO分類に示された肝内胆管癌の亜分類について、両者の詳細な臨床病理学的な差異はこれまで明らかではなかった。本研究により、肝内胆管癌の亜分類が外科手術および薬物療法を含む治療戦略樹立に影響を及ぼすことが示唆された。
代表的な難治癌の1つである肝内胆管癌において、至適な治療戦略樹立を目指したバイオマーカー探索は重要な役割を果たす。本研究で亜分類が治療に及ぼす影響が示唆されたことで、これを踏まえて今後治療戦略を再考していく必要がある。これは肝内胆管癌治療成績向上に大きく寄与していく可能性を有する。