Comprehensive analysis of Galectin-3 involved in the interaction between lung cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblats.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19976
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory surgery
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Kataoka Yoko 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 医員 (00746919)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 肺がん / がん間質線維芽細胞 / Galectin-3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Galectin-3 (Gal3) is a β-galactoside lectin, which is involved in tumor malignancy. However, in cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF), the role of Gal3 remains to be elucidated. We investigated the function of Gal3 involved in interaction between lung cancer cell and CAF. In patients with invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma who underwent radical surgery, the expression of Gal3 on tumor cells and CAFs was examined by immunohistochemistry. As results, the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of lung cancer cells was increased by Gal3 secreted from CAFs. A higher level of Gal3 expression on CAFs was significantly associated with microvessel invasion and tumor recurrence after surgery. These results indicated that Gal3 secreted from CAFs indirectly contributes to tumor recurrence via enhancement of EGFR signaling of tumor cells.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学