Analysis of M2 macrophage functions in recurrence of oral cancer

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K17233
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: OKUBO Makiko 横浜市立大学, 医学研究科, 客員研究員 (10780611)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔癌 / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regulation of relapse in oral cancer is currently significance for the improvement of prognosis. We previously found that recruitment of bone marrow-derived CD11b positive M2 macrophage contributed to recurrence after radiation. Although M2 macrophage is reported its pro-tumorigenic activities in vitro, the role and molecular mechanism of M2 macrophage in tumor microenvironment in the process of recurrence is not known yet. Thus, the subject of this study was to elucidate the role of M2 macrophage in relapse of oral cancer using organoid, in which the tumor microenvironment are closely re-organaized in vitro. We utilized several different types of cells including cancer, endothelial, stroma, and monocytes for establishment of oral cancer organoid. We found that the resistance against chemo drugs was seen in 3D-organoid compared to either oral cancer cells alone or 2D-cocultured cells. M2 macrophage-secreting proteins contributed angiogenesis in vitro assay.

Free Research Field

口腔がん研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

まだ最終的な成果は得られていないが、本研究成果から口腔がん治療において喫緊の課題である治療後再発のメカニズムの一端が明らかとなり、またその治療標的が確立されることにより新たな治療法の開発や診断ツールの開発への貢献が期待され、学術的意義のみならず、社会的な意義においても注目される。