Imaging analysis for emergence of EGFR inhibitor-resistant cancer cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17KK0201
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional biochemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Tanabe Kenji 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80423341)
• Project Period (FY): 2018 – 2023
• Keywords: 画像解析 / 薬剤耐性 / 化合物スクリーニング / 一細胞解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on the single cell heterogeneity in cell population that arise Drug Tolerant Persister cells (DTPs), and tried to predict the emergence of DTPs by measuring the cellular intrinsic factor, such as protein expression and localization, and extrinsic factor. Using immunofluorescent imaging, dozens of proteins and molecules were visualized in same cells, and quantitatively analyzed. We are now trying to predict the cellular responses, but using this study, we have successfully constructed a workflow to obtain spatial information of dozen of molecules from a single cell.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で確立した数十の分子を一細胞において可視化する技術は他の多くの研究に活用できる。特に本研究でも実施した化合物ライブラリーのスクリーニングは創薬分野において重要なアプローチであり、両者を組み合わせることで新たなスクリーニング技術が開発できる。本研究を基盤にした、分子の空間的情報を含めた一細胞解析は産学両分野への新たな展開が期待できる。