Interaction between pancreatic cancer and adipose tissue

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17436
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: Saga University
• Principal Investigator: Akutagawa Takashi 佐賀大学, 医学部, 助教 (40839057)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 脂肪組織 / インターフェロン / IRF9 / STAT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Adipose tissue and fluid flow had a positive synergistic effect on the proliferative potential and invasive capacity of pancreatic cancer cells, and adipose tissue inhibited apoptosis in these cells. Adipose tissue upregulated IRF/STAT signaling in pancreatic cancer cells. Adipose tissue modulated chemosensitivity to Gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Additionally, pancreatic cancer cells increased production and secretion of Interferon in adipose tissue.
The results suggested that adipose tissue and pancreatic cancer cells had positive relation via Interferon and IRF/STAT pathway.

Free Research Field

消化器内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

膵癌は予後不良な悪性腫瘍の一つであり、日本人の癌死の上位に位置する疾患である。膵癌の活性化、浸潤、転移に影響を及ぼす因子を同定し、新規分子標的薬の創成などが早期の望まれる。今回、膵癌細胞と脂肪組織の相互作用について解析し、インターフェロンならびにIRF/STAT経路が相互作用に影響を及ぼす因子と考えらえた。今回同定したタンパクなどをターゲットにした分子標的薬、新規薬剤の創薬につながると考えられる。