Development of less invasive treatment for central nervous system invasion of refractory hematologic malignancies.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07897
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: KAWADA HIROSHI 東海大学, 医学部, 教授 (20276801)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 安藤 潔 東海大学, 医学部, 教授 (70176014) ; 鈴木 利貴央 東海大学, 医学部, 講師 (70514371)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 高濃度ビタミンC / 抗腫瘍効果 / 中枢神経悪性リンパ腫 / 鉄キレート

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated whether high concentrations of vitamin C (VitC) could be a new therapeutic strategy for malignant lymphoma infiltrating the central nervous system (CNS). In vitro, we confirmed that high iron concentration around tumor cells suppresses the antitumor effect of VitC, while the effect of VitC is enhanced in a low iron concentration environment. Next, in vivo, mice were fed a low-iron diet to reduce iron concentrations in the brain and were also administered an iron chelator to examine the conditions under which the effects of VitC are maximized. Our results using a mouse model suggest that VitC under low iron conditions may effectively inhibit the growth of CNS lymphoma.

Free Research Field

血液腫瘍内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中枢神経系(CNS)へ浸潤した白血病やリンパ腫は、血液脳関門を移行できる薬剤が限られていることもあり、予後不良である。今回の研究結果からは、難治性血液悪性腫瘍のCNS病変に対し、脳内を低鉄環境にしたうえでのVitC投与が、将来的に低侵襲性の新たな治療戦略になりうる可能性が示された。