Development of novel cell therapeutic strategy using unlicenced NK cells combined with molecular target medicine for liver cancer

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670581
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: OHDAN Hideki 広島大学, 医歯薬保健学研究院(医), 教授 (10363061)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TANAKA Yuka 広島大学, 医歯薬保健学研究院(医), 准教授 (90432666)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: NK細胞 / 分子標的薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

NK cells have a potential role in immune surveillance of HCC. Self-recognition of HLA through killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) confers competence to NK cells-a process termed "licensing." We investigated the effect of NK-cell licensing on the susceptibility of patients to HCC recurrence. A total of 170 patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy were enrolled. We analyzed their KIR-HLA genotypes. The presence of KIR2DL1-C2, KIR2DL2-C1, KIR3DL1-BW4, or KIR3DL2-A3/11, functional compound genotypes that intrinsically license NK cells, did not markedly affect HCC recurrence. However, the multiplicity of those compound KIR-HLA genotypes was significantly associated with the HCC recurrence rate, i.e., the cumulative risk of recurrence in patients with at least three compound genotypes was significantly lower than that in patients with one or two compound genotypes. Patients at high risk of HCC recurrence after curative hepatectomy could be identified by KIR-HLA genotyping.

Free Research Field

消化器・移植外科学