Why cancer cells metastasize to lymphatics from the early stage ?

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07676
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Kawasaki Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Yamauchi Akira 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80372431)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡本 秀一郎 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10529035) ; 山村 真弘 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (70299204) ; 片瀬 直樹 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 助教 (30566071) ; 阪口 政清 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (70379840) ; 栗林 太 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (60251443)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 癌転移 / リンパ内皮細胞 / S100 protein / 走化性 / 細胞動態 / マイクロアレイ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Lymphotropic metastasis of cancer closely relates to the prognosis, however, little is known about the mechanism how cancer cells invade into lymphatics. S100 proteins are known to be produced in inflammatory tissues and has been pointed out to be related to cancer metastasis. In this study, we analyzed the interaction of cancer cells and lymphatic endothelial cells using our own technology to clarify the mechanism. The cell dynamics assay showed that S100A8-stimulated human lymphatic endothelial cells enhanced the migration of human pancreatic cancer cells. The DNA microarray using the samples from S100A8-stimulated human lymphatic endothelial cells showed that various DNA-binding proteins and transcriptional factors were up- or down-regulated. Also EMT, CAF, chemokine productions were shown to be correlated to the cancer metastasis.

Free Research Field

生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究から得られる成果は、癌転移の機序解明に貢献すると共に、新規治療ターゲットおよび新規バイオマーカーとして将来の癌診療に応用できることが期待される。リンパ向性転移を抑制できれば転移克服に大きく近づき、生命予後を大幅に改善できることが予想される。