Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to establish novel strategies and approaches for cancer therapy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K08717
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kitahara Shuji 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 特任准教授 (40510235)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 康弘 東北大学, 未来科学技術共同研究センター, 助教 (60332277)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腫瘍血管 / 腫瘍微小環境 / 免疫環境 / 併用療法 / 消化器癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study was to understand the characteristics of tumors by following alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which plays a key role in the growth and metastasis of tumor cells. We used tumor model mice and human pathological specimens and analyzed them from both morphological and functional perspectives. By reprogramming the environment, we aimed to develop new anti-vascular therapies to limit tumor growth, and improve the efficacy of combination therapies including immunotherapy as well as of chemopreventive drugs.

Free Research Field

顕微解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血管新生因子であるVasohibin2をコントロールすることで、用いた主要モデルマウスの血管正常化、免疫細胞の侵入が見られ、腫瘍微小環境の正常化が見られた。今後、Vasohibin2を始め、微小循環系を制御することで、微小免疫環境が改善され、腫瘍増殖を抑制し、今後の併用療法の可能性の拡大を示唆できた。また、病理検体より、微小環境の変化によって分類することで、より個別の分子標的治療薬の選定が可能になることが示唆された。