Effects of TGF-beta family on cancer microenvironment and strategies for cancer therapy

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Integrative Research on Cancer Microenvironment Network
• Project/Area Number: 22112002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MIYAZONO Kohei 東京大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90209908)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TABATA Yasuhiko 京都大学, 再生医科学研究所, 教授 (50211371) ; JO Jun-ichiro 独立行政法人放射線医学総合研究所, 分子イメージング研究センター, 研究員 (60511243)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): WATABE Tetsuro 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (00334235) ; KOINUMA Daizo 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (80375071) ; EHATA Shogo 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 特任講師 (90506726)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: がん微小環境 / シグナル伝達 / 生体材料 / 生体イメージング / ゲノム科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have studied the roles of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and its related proteins (bone morphogenetic proteins, BMPs) on cancer microenvironment, by using molecular and cellular biological methods as well as recent genome biological techniques and biomaterials. We have investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-beta, and found that functional interaction between cancer cells and cancer microenvironment plays important roles in the progression of cancer. We have also found that BMP-9 acts on lymphatic endothelial cells and inhibits lymphangiogenesis in vivo. Since anti-cancer drugs targeting cancer microenvironment are often less toxic than conventional anti-cancer drugs, our findings may be important for future development of new strategies for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学