Novel therapeutic strategies based on macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment after hepatic arterial embolization.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Ueshima Eisuke 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (40645561)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平田 豊 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10441247) ; 児玉 大志 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20422834) ; 祖父江 慶太郎 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (90622027) ; 村上 卓道 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (20252653)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肝細胞癌 / 腫瘍関連マクロファージ / 動脈塞栓術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An allogeneic transplantation hepatocarcinoma model was created using N1S1 rat hepatocarcinoma cells, and tumor arteries were embolized. The number of tumor-associated macrophages in which TGF- β1-producing cells accumulated was evaluated by immunostaining with CD68 and CD206 antibodies in the transplanted and marginal areas of hepatocarcinoma. Comprehensive genetic analysis by microarray revealed a trend toward increased expression of TAM-associated genes in the embolization group and decreased expression in the lenvatinib group. This suggests that TAM polarity in the tumor immune microenvironment induced by TAE may be alleviated by lenvatinib.

Free Research Field

インターベンショナルラジオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動脈塞栓術後の残存腫瘍中の腫瘍免疫微小環境の悪化は、肝癌再発時の予後不良に関連していると考えられる。塞栓術後にLenvatinibを投与することで、微小環境中の腫瘍関連マクロファージの極性を変化させ、免疫状態を改善する可能性が示唆された。