2016 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Identification of new therapeutic targets to sensitize chemoresistant tumor microenvironment to chemotherapy
| Project/Area Number |
15K18434
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| Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
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Principal Investigator |
バグダーディ ムハンマド 北海道大学, 遺伝子病制御研究所, 講師 (60711570)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | Tumor microenvironment / Chemoresistance / Macrophages / IL-34 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The ability of tumor cells to escape immune destruction and their acquired resistance to chemotherapy are major obstacles to effective cancer therapy. In this research, we identified IL-34 produced by cancer cells as a driver of chemoresistance. In particular, we found that IL-34 modulated the functions of tumor-associated macrophages to enhance local immunosuppression and to promote the survival of chemoresistant cancer cells by activating AKT signaling. Targeting IL-34 in chemoresistant tumors resulted in a remarkable inhibition of tumor growth when accompanied with chemotherapy. Our results define a pathogenic role for IL-34 in mediating immunosuppression and chemoresistance and identify it as a tractable target for anticancer therapy.
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Research Products
(3 results)
