Tumor microenvironment and gut microbiota in pancreatic cancer

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08444
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Masuda Atsuhiro 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (60512530)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 潤 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50631561) ; 児玉 裕三 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (80378687)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 細菌叢 / 腫瘍免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, it has become clear that bacterial infection is locally observed in pancreatic cancer, suggesting that it plays an important role in pancreatic carcinogenesis and its progression. However, there are still unclear what and how bacterial species are involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis and progression. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the microbiota profile of cancer and the pathological and clinical features using the histopathology of human pancreatic cancer. Compared with normal pancreatic tissue, pancreatic cancer showed a high amplification reaction of 16S rDNA, and analysis by the next-generation sequencer could identify the same bacteria as previously reported. Furthermore, immunostaining of LPS revealed that LPS-positive pancreatic cancer had a poor prognosis and that tumor immunity was suppressed. Currently, we are considering adding in situ hybridization.

Free Research Field

消化器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、膵癌組織中の細菌叢解析を行う事で膵癌の予後や腫瘍内免疫に当たる影響を調査するものである。予後の悪い膵癌の発癌及び進展機構を解明することで、予後改善に向けた病態解明につながる可能性があると考える。事実、細菌の構成成分の一つであるLPS陽性膵癌では予後不良であり、腫瘍免疫が抑制されている事を見出した。今後はさらに詳細に解析を追加し結果の信頼性を高めるとともにプロバイオティクスによる細菌制御法について研究を進め、膵癌の予後改善を目指す。