Identification of epigenetic characteristics of Cancer-associated fibroblasts

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19959
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan
• Principal Investigator: Maeda Masahiro 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 研究所, 研究員 (30738703)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: がん関連線維芽細胞 / H3K27me3 / WNT5A

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major cellular component of cancer stroma, play a crucial role in cancer progression. In this study, we aimed to identify epigenetic characteristics of CAFs, which may underlie stable tumor-promoting capacities of CAFs. Primary culture of CAFs and non-CAFs was established from gastric surgical specimens. Focusing on H3K27me3, a repressive histone mark that is stable and essential for cell-specific differentiation, we revealed that CAFs had genome-wide alterations of H3K27me3, leading to aberrant production of various tumor promoting factors due to decreased H3K27me3. Among them, we identified WNT5A as a therapeutic target derived from CAFs. This study suggested that epigenetic alterations may determine CAF's biological behaviors.

Free Research Field

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