Genome-wide analysis for the cure of advanced lung cancer

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07128
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Aichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kubo Akihito 愛知医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (60416245)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 洪 泰浩 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80426519)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 肺癌 / 中皮腫 / 長期生存 / 化学療法 / 次世代シーケンシング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and molecular factors that lead to clinical “cure” in patients with “incurable” stage IV lung cancer or mesothelioma.
We identified 10 cases of such exceptional responders of stage IV lung cancer that showed marked response to chemotherapy and remained alive and long-term (2 years or longer) treatment-free and progression-free. Among these, 9 were lung cancer (small cell carcinoma 5, adenocarcinoma 3, and combined small and adenocarcinoma 1) and 1 was mesothelioma. Smokers accounted for 80%, most with heavy-smoking history. The results suggested of immune-related mechanism for the exceptional long-term remission, nearing to cure. Molecular profiling analyses are currently underway.

Free Research Field

臨床腫瘍学、臨床試験、分子生物学、呼吸器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

化学療法が著効し長期間無治療で寛解が維持されたIV期肺がんまたは中皮腫のイントリンシックな分子プロファイルの探索と化学療法の効果との関連を調べることにより、治癒につながりうる長期寛解の分子メカニズムの機序解明は、予後不良な進行肺がん・中皮腫に対する新たな治療戦略として大きな貢献が期待される。