Inhibitory Effects of Hybrid Nanoparticles Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Their Application to Cancer Therapy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05175
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 27040:Biofunction and bioprocess engineering-related
• Research Institution: Sojo University
• Principal Investigator: Komizu Yuji 崇城大学, 生物生命学部, 准教授 (80735829)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松下 琢 崇城大学, 生物生命学部, 教授 (10209538)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: がん幹細胞 / ハイブリッドナノ粒子 / 肝臓がん / 増殖抑制効果 / コロニー形成試験 / アポトーシス / 薬剤耐性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of HL on the growth of CSC subpopulations in liver cancer cells (HepG2) in vitro. HL selectively inhibited liver cancer cell growth without affecting normal hepatocytes. Notably, reduction in the CD133+ /EpCAM+ CSC sub-population of liver cancer cells treated with HL was observed by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, HL markedly decreased the number of colony-forming cells in the soft agar colony formation assay. Finally, we confirmed the fusion and accumulation of HL into the cell membranes of CSCs, using a fluorescently labeled lipid (NBDPC), by flow cytometry. Significant accumulation of HL/NBDPC into the CSCs (especially EpCAM+ cells) occurred in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that HL could be novel nanomedical therapeutic agents for targeting CSCs in liver cancer therapy.

Free Research Field

医用生体工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

厚生労働省の人口動態統計によると、がんは1981年以降ずっと日本人の死因第1位で、全体の3割を占める。近年、抗がん剤が効かない原因としてCSCの存在に注目が集まっており、CSCを標的とするがん治療は、がんの根本治癒を目指すための最重要課題となっており、本研究課題の研究意義は極めて大きなものである。本研究成果は新規ナノ粒子であるHLのCSCに対する選択的な細胞増殖抑制効果について細胞レベルでの成果を報告したものであり、今後の展開が期待される。