Synthetic lethality induced by arctigenin through engineering tumor tissue microenvironment

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14619
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Esumi Hiroyasu 東京理科大学, 研究推進機構生命医科学研究所, 教授 (70160364)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 低酸素 / 微少環境 / vascular normalization / synthetic lethality / 微少環境改変による増感

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An active principle in fruit of Actinum Lappa, a traditional medicine was found to normalize tumor vasculature, leading to significant improvement of tumor hypoxia. By utilizing this activity of arctigenin, we intended to develop a combination therapy of tumor with both X-ray and chemotherapeutics. Taking several xenograft models and X-ray and anticancer drugs, we could clearly show tissue level synthetic lethality (synergistic antitumor effect by modulating tissue structure). Previously, we have shown the bioavailability and clinical safety of Arctigenin in a phase I trial in patients with pancreatic cancer, we plan to conduct clinical trial of arctigenin to enhance X-ray and chemotherapy of cancer.

Free Research Field

がん治療、がん微少環境工学、化学療法、放射線療法