Biomarker search and clinical application for early diagnosis of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20826
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0901:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA So 九州大学, 医学研究院, 共同研究員 (90965237)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 十二指腸液 / 細胞外小胞 / microRNA / 膵癌 / 早期診断

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using the modified protocol which was invented for exosome extraction from pancreatic juice, exosome was extracted from DF and confirmed the presence by electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blotting analysis of exosome-surface markers. We then determined mi-RNA-20a as an exosomal-miRNA for PDAC detection based on the expression analysis of miRNA using exosome released from pancreatic cancer cell lines and a normal pancreatic epithelial cell line. We collected duodenal fluid from PDAC patients and those with benign diseases, and expression of exosomal mi-RNA-20a was significantly higher in PDAC patients compared to those with benign diseases. AUC comparing exosome; miRNA-20a in DF form PDAC patients and controls was 0.85, indicating sufficient diagnostic ability of the test.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

十二指腸液中にexosomeを同定し、安定性を示すことができれば、ex-miRなどの内包される分子は有望なバイオマーカーとなる可能性がある。さらには、同定した十二指腸液中バイオマーカーを血液サンプルにフィードバックさせることで、膵・胆道癌の新たなスクリーニング法の開発につながる可能性が高い。本研究により膵・胆道癌の早期診断を可能とすることは、予後を大幅に改善することにつながり、社会的貢献度、緊急度は高いと考える。