| Project/Area Number |
21390454
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Obstetrics and gynecology
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| Research Institution | Kumamoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
TASHIRO Hironori 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任准教授 (70304996)
MOTOHARA Takeshi 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (10457591)
大竹 秀幸 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (60336237)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2009 – 2011
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥17,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥5,980,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,380,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥6,630,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,530,000)
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| Keywords | 上皮性卵巣癌 / 癌幹細胞 / 卵巣表層上皮 / 卵巣癌治療 / 卵巣癌モデル |
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| Research Abstract |
Emerging evidence suggests that human cancers arise from normal stem cells, and are composed of hierarchies of cells sustained by tumor-initiating cells(T-ICs), conceptually termed cancer stem cells(CSCs). Epithelial cell adhesion molecule(EpCAM) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed specifically in epithelial tissues and is overexpressed in some epithelial cancers. In normal tissues, EpCAM is expressed in several types of epithelial stem/progenitor cells and contributes to tissue development. On the other hand, a subpopulation of EpCAM-positive cells has been identified as CSCs in some human cancers. In the light of these considerations, we evaluated the EpCAM-positive cells for their stem cell properties in adult mouse ovary, and established the ovarian T-ICs by introduction of defined genetic elements in EpCAM-positive cells. EpCAM-positive cells possess the hallmarks of somatic stem cells and CSCs in this mouse model of ovarian tumorigenesis. Furthermore, our experimental mouse model facilitates further studies toward a comprehensive understanding of normal stem cells and CSCs in ovary. Ultimately, such studies will be imperative to define whether eradication of ovarian CSCs is critical for effective therapy.
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