Development of new treatment methods for radiation induced osteomyelitis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19230
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: IWATA EIJI 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (10832975)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-03-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 放射線性骨髄炎 / 低酸素状態 / 線維化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Radiation-induced osteomyelitis is a serious complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. However, treatment guidelines have been not established and existing treatments have many complications. The development of new treatments is desired. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new treatment method by focusing on its causes and searched for therapeutic targets. As a result, examination at the cellular level revealed that the oral mucosal tissue is exposed to high doses of radiation, which increases hypoxia and causes fibrosis. Examination of advanced cases revealed that accumulation of infection (i.e., fibrosis) is an important factor. Examination using clinical specimens also showed that fibrosis is involved in the etiology and identifying myofibroblasts as a potential therapeutic target.

Free Research Field

口腔外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

医療の発展にも関わらず、頭頸部癌患者数は年々増加の一途にある。約80％の頭頸部癌患者がその治療過程において放射線治療を受けると言われており、その合併症が放射線性顎骨骨髄炎である。本研究でその発症や進行には、線維化が深く関与していること、さらに線維化の主役である筋線維芽細胞が重要な治療ターゲットとなりうることを見いだした。筋線維芽細胞をターゲットとした研究は様々な分野で行われており、今後放射線性顎骨骨髄炎の新規治療法開発に向けた研究が進展する可能性が見いだされた。