Comprehensive analysis of intestinal microbiomes affecting esophageal cancer chemotherapy

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18094
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: YAGI Taisuke 熊本大学, 病院, 非常勤診療医師 (60836253)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Fusobacterium / 食道癌 / microbiome

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have investigated the significance of Fusobacterium nucleatum in upper gastrointestinal cancer. In recent years, it has been reported that microbiome may affect anticancer drug sensitivity, and our esophageal cancer database also shows that the therapeutic effect of preoperative chemotherapy is poor in Fusobacterium nucleatum-positive cases. It was. Furthermore, the results of co-culture experiments between Fusobacterium nucleatum and esophageal cancer cell lines revealed that Fusobacterium nucleatum is involved in anticancer drug resistance by inducing autophagy. In future research, if the role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the progression of esophageal cancer is elucidated in more detail, it may lead to new drug discovery for cancer treatment.

Free Research Field

上部消化管癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

F. nucleatumは口腔内に常在するグラム陰性嫌気性桿菌で、歯周病や早産、炎症性腸疾患などの原因として知られている。F. nucleatumと食道がん細胞株との共培養実験の結果から、F. nucleatumがautophagyを誘導することにより抗がん剤抵抗性に関与していることが明らかとなった。F. nucleatumの役割がより詳細に解明されれば、がん治療の新たな創薬に繋がる可能性があると考える。