A study of adipocyte transformation in breast cancer tissue

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09058
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: KANEDA Hide 日本大学, 医学部, 助教 (30598967)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松本 太郎 日本大学, 医学部, 教授 (50366580) ; 櫻井 健一 日本大学, 医学部, 研究医員 (20366602) ; 小沼 憲祥 日本大学, 医学部, 研究医員 (50553103)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乳癌 / 脂肪細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mature adipocytes are suggested to promote breast cancer progression. However, the contribution of mature adipocytes to breast cancer development is unclear. In the present study, we transplanted breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pad of the mature adipocyte-lineage tracing mice. Histological evaluation revealed that fibroblast-like cell derived from mature adipocyte appeared in the tumor. We termed the cell ‘adipocyte-derived fibroblast like cell (AFC)’. Some AFCs were positive for pericyte markers or mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) markers in the tumor. However, endothelial cell marker-positive AFCs and carcinoma-associated fibroblast marker-positive AFCs were not detected. These results indicate that mature adipocytes can be transformed into pericytes and MSCs in breast cancer.

Free Research Field

基礎医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脂肪細胞特異的レポーターマウスを用いて、脂肪細胞に由来する細胞が乳癌組織内に出現することは、これまでに報告されておらず、学術的意義の高い研究成果であると考える。脂肪細胞がPericyteや間葉系幹細胞の形質を獲得するメカニズムを今後解明できれば、乳癌に対する新規治療標的を発見する糸口となる可能性があり、社会的意義の高い研究成果であると考えている。