Development of novel therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer by regulating the immunological dynamics of tumor-associated macrophages

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09826
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Motohara Takeshi 熊本大学, 病院, 講師 (10457591)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田代 浩徳 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(保), 教授 (70304996) ; 片渕 秀隆 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 名誉教授 (90224451)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣癌 / 癌幹細胞 / 癌幹細胞ニッチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed a comprehensive basic analysis to elucidate the cell-cell interaction between ovarian cancer cells and TAMs and the molecular biological roles of CSF-1R and its ligand, CSF-1, in regulating TAM function.
We found that CSF-1 is expressed in ovarian cancer cells, while CSF-1R is expressed in TAMs. In addition, therapeutic experiments using CSF-1R inhibitors experimentally demonstrated that suppression of TAM function exerts an antitumor effect. These results suggest that suppression of these CSF-1/CSF-1R signaling pathways may be a promising new therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

われわれの研究グループがこれまでに継続して行ってきたマクロファージの生物学的機能ならびに卵巣癌細胞の抗癌剤抵抗性に関する研究をさらに進展させ、特に腫瘍微小環境におけるTAMの機能的役割を明らかにすることは、卵巣癌の治療抵抗性の分子メカニズムの包括的な理解、そして卵巣癌患者の治療成績の向上に繋がることが期待される。