Molecular mechanisms of differentiation and metastasis of human gastrointestinal cancer stem cells

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08970
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Baba Eishi 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (00315475)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 有山 寛 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (80713437)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸癌 / 胃癌 / 癌幹細胞 / 組織幹細胞 / オルガノイド / 上皮間葉転換 / 印環細胞癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Freshly isolated human gastrointestinal cancer stem cells (CSCs) and normal tissue stem cells, which form organoid in our culture system, were examined by comprehensive gene expression analysis. Differentiated colorectal non-CSCs in the culture were demonstrated to retrieve the stem cell features in association with activation of TWIST1, a key molecule of epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Normal gastric tissue stem cells-derived organoid exhibited signet-ring cell carcinoma-like morphology by inhibition of E-cadherin expression. These molecules regulating the behavior of CSCs and tissue stem cells could possibly become therapeutic targets for cancer chemotherapy.

Free Research Field

消化器内科学