New development of cancer treatment by mTOR signal control of cancer-associated fibroblasts in cancer microenvironment

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17233
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Furudate Ken 弘前大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50638898)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-03-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: がん微小環境 / 癌関連線維芽細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which reflects the trophic state of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), regulates angiogenesis in the cancer microenvironment, where both oral cancer cells and fibroblasts are present. We investigated the mechanism by which VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) is regulated by mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling, which reflects the trophic state of CAFs. This study suggests that MCAM-overexpressing myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts are involved in tumor promotion, tumor angiogenesis, and tumor immunosuppression through cell-cell interactions of the VEGF and IL-6 signaling pathway networks.

Free Research Field

歯科口腔外科、バイオインフォマティクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、口腔癌細胞と線維芽細胞の両者が存在するがん微小環境において、癌関連線維芽細胞（Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts：CAF）の栄養状態を反映するmTOR（mammalian target of rapamycin）シグナルが血管新生因子(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor:VEGF)を制御する機構を明らかにすることで、口腔扁平上皮癌を制御する新規治療薬の開発につながる基礎的研究であった。