Exploring a novel mechanism for immune-suppression in non-small cell lung cancer

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55040:Respiratory surgery-related
• Research Institution: Miyagi Prefectural Hospital Organization Miyagi Cancer Center
• Principal Investigator: Sato Taku 地方独立行政法人宮城県立病院機構宮城県立がんセンター(研究所), がん薬物療法研究部, 共同研究員 (90814541)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 肺がん / 代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many tumors including non-small cell lung cancer exhibit the Warburg effect, a metabolic state in which glucose oxidation is limited even in the presence of oxygen. However, the role(s) for the Warburg effect in carcinogenesis remains controversial. In this study, we asked potential mechanism in which the Warburg effect promotes tumor progression in non-cell-autonomous manner via reprograming their microenvironment. Our results suggest that the Warburg effect-like metabolism of tumor cells mediates immune-suppression.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科学、腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回得られた結果は、腫瘍ワールブルグ効果をターゲットする新規イムノセラピー開発への途を拓くとともに、自身に対する免疫寛容の誘導こそがワールブルグ効果が腫瘍にもたらす真のメリットであることを示唆している。腫瘍学分野にて長年の謎となっていたワールブルグ効果の真の意義解明の端緒となる成果を得るとともに、新規イムノセラピーの開発にも通じる重要な知見を得ることができた。