Elucidation of progression mechanism of malignant pleural mesothelioma using co-culture systems

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15569
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: MUKAI Satomi 愛知県がんセンター(研究所), 分子腫瘍学分野, 研究員 (10706146)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 悪性中皮腫 / 共培養

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Malignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor that mainly develops in the pleura and diffuses on the parietal and visceral pleura. To clarify the mechanisms by which the tumor diffuses throughout the pleura, we performed co-culture of normal mesothelial cells and malignant mesothelioma. As a result of examining various co-culture systems, it was suggested that normal mesothelial cells contributed to the growth promotion of malignant mesothelioma cells in the early stage of tumorigenesis in which normal mesothelial cells dominate. It was also suggested that the predominance of tumor cells would eliminate normal cells and replace them. In addition, it was revealed that the humoral factor released from malignant mesothelioma cells reduces the intercellular adhesion molecule of normal mesothelial cells.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、がん細胞と間質細胞との関連が注目されている。特に中皮細胞とがん細胞の関連ついては、卵巣癌や前立腺癌においてその腫瘍進展を促進させるという報告があるものの、周囲を中皮細胞に取り囲まれる悪性中皮腫についての知見は全くない。しかし本研究によって、悪性中皮腫細胞においても正常中皮細胞が腫瘍進展を促進させることが示唆された。今後さらなる解析により、その原因物質が同定されたあかつきには、それを標的とした新たな治療戦略を構築できる可能性が期待できる。