The Role of Fusobacterium in High-Risk Mice for Colorectal Cancer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07779
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Okihide 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (90726324)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 堀内 大 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (30608906)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Fusobacterium nucreatum / 細菌叢 / がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, it has become clear that tumor tissues contain a specific bacterial flora; Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), an oral resident bacterium, is frequently detected in colorectal cancer tissues, suggesting that it acts as a cancer-promoting factor. In this study, the optimal conditions for observing the interaction of F. nucleatum with mammalian cells were explored. The results showed that F. nucleatum induces gene and protein expression changes in susceptible cells that are reminiscent of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Since the epithelial-mesenchymal transition is strongly associated with the progression of cancer pathology, controlling the behavior of F. nucleatum in the host body may inhibit cancer progression.

Free Research Field

がん治療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、哺乳類細胞の形質変化の観察に実用的なF. nucleatum-哺乳類細胞共培養系を構築した。それによりF. nucleatumによって引き起こされる上皮-間葉移行などの特徴的な宿主細胞の変化を見出した。以上より、F. nucleatumの宿主体内動態のコントロールは、がんの進展抑制となりうることから、従来からの標準的ながん治療とF. nucleatumを標的とした方策を組み合わせることによって、がん医療の大きな改善をもたらすことが期待される。