The development of tailor-made treatment for high-grade salivary gland cancer

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462672
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: KANO SATOSHI 北海道大学, 大学病院, 助教 (00374421)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 唾液腺癌 / 唾液腺導管癌 / HER2 / トラスツズマブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed the expression of proteins in salivary gland cancer. The results showed that the expression of EGFR, HER2 and c-KIT was 76%, 20% and 38%, respectively. Among them, the patients with HER2-positive tumors had significantly unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, we found the activation of the PI3K pathway in HER2-positive tumors. HER2 was mainly overexpressing in salivary duct carcinoma, and was detected more frequently in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma than in de novo tumors. This result suggested that HER2 could be involved in carcinogenesis from pleomorphic adenoma. Based on these results, we planned to develop a HER2-targeted therapy in salivary gland cancer.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科頭頸部外科