The analysis of the role of melanogenesis in the anti-tumor immunity of malignant melanoma.

• Project/Area Number: 18K15204
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Hidaka Takanori 東北大学, 大学病院, 特任助手 (80781575)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: 悪性黒色腫 / 細胞障害性T細胞 / メラニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Malignant melanoma is the tumor of poor prognosis and being characterized by a melanogenic property. Though it has been recently revealed important to derepress the function of anti-tumor cytotoxic t cells, the relationship between melanogenesis and the immune-suppression of cytotoxic t cells remains unknown. We revealed that one of the metabolites of melanogenesis activates aryl hydrocarbon receptor of cytotoxic t cells besides malignant melanoma that leads to the suppression of cytotoxic t cells.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は悪性黒色腫に特異的なメラニン色素合成系と同腫瘍の病態に重要な細胞障害性T細胞の関係を解明したものである。このことはAryl hydrocarbon receptor活性の調整が、既存の治療薬と比較して悪性黒色腫に対してより特異的(副作用が少なく)かつ治療効果は劣らない加療法の開発につながる可能性を示唆している。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Modulates Carcinogenesis and Maintenance of Skin Cancers (2019)
  • Author(s): Hidaka Takanori、Fujimura Taku、Aiba Setsuya
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Medicine Volume: 6 Pages: 194-194
  • DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00194
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Melanogenic property of melanoma is associated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor-induced suppression of anti-melanoma immune response. (2019)
  • Author(s): Hidaka T, Fujimura T, Aiba S.
  • Organizer: 49th Annual Meeting of European Society for Dermatological Research.
  • Int'l Joint Research