Investigation of differential immune status among cancer patients and development of personalized cancer therapy by combining immunomodulation

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26221005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Tumor therapeutics
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: KAWAKAMI Yutaka 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 教授 (50161287)
• Research Collaborator: YAGUCHI Tomonori ; OHTA Shigeki ; TSUKAMOTO Nobuo
• Project Period (FY): 2014-05-30 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: がん治療 / 個別化治療 / 複合免疫療法 / 免疫病態 / 免疫制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Immune status varies among cancer patients and is correlated with responses to various cancer therapies including immunotherapy. However its mechanisms and outcome have not been understood well. In this study, we revealed immunological subtypes of various human cancers using a variety of new technologies such as comprehensive genetic, immunological, and microbial analyses. In addition, we identified various chemicals and antibodies capable of augmenting anti-tumor immunity using mouse tumor models and newly developed humanized mice. These results contribute not only to advance of human tumor immunology, but also to development of effective combination immunotherapy.

Free Research Field

腫瘍学、免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

各種ヒトがんの免疫状態の仕組みとがん治療との関係の解明により、ヒト腫瘍免疫学の発展に貢献できた。また社会で期待されている、治療効果の高い免疫チェックポイント阻害薬を基軸とした複合がん免疫療法の開発に必要なバイオマーカーの同定や治療標的の同定と治療薬の開発につながる研究成果が得られ、今後のがん医療の改善に貢献できる。