Optimisation of a cancer detection and isolation technique using hTERT promoter, and establishment of its applicational foundation

• Project/Area Number: 16K11004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Urology
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Ueki Hideo 岡山大学, 医学部, 技術専門職員 (90537218)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 那須 保友 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (20237572) ; 渡邉 豊彦 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 准教授 (30432644) ; 定平 卓也 岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20733322)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 腫瘍 / 細胞検出 / 腫瘍学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A novel gene expression system that dramatically increases promoter activity while maintaining cancer specificity can be used as a new technology to strongly label and detect very few free cancer cells. The optimum conditions were also examined, and data for practical use of in vitro diagnostic methods were obtained. In addition, its usefulness has been confirmed as a technique for collecting detected free cancer cells and establishing them as cell lines.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

当該システムを用いることで、血液や尿中に遊離したごくわずかな生きた癌細胞を発光・ラベルさせることが可能となる。今後、臨床の現場において、幅広い癌種について癌転移等の可能性を早期に予測できる診断法につながることが期待される。また、当該システムを応用することにより、生きたまま遊離癌細胞を採取してセルラインとして樹立することが可能となる。遊離癌細胞と原発巣の癌細胞等とを比較して新規転移関連マーカーの探索を行うことや、患者の予後診断、治療に利用できる可能性がある。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Robust cancer-specific gene expression by a novel cassette with hTERT and CMV promoter elements. (2017)
  • Author(s): Sakaguchi M, Sadahira T, Ueki H, Kinoshita R, Murata H, Yamamoto KI, Futami J, Nasu Y, Ochiai K, Kumon H, Huh NH, Watanabe M.
  • Journal Title: Oncology Reports Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Pages: 1108-1114
  • DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5710
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access