The epigenetic mechanisms of the invasion and metastasis in canine oral squamous cell carcinoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06435
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022-2023); Osaka Prefecture University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Noguchi Shunsuke 大阪公立大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 客員研究員 (10701295)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 森 崇 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (40402218)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔扁平上皮癌 / 上皮間葉転換 / microRNA / SLUG / Fascin1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I partly validated the mechanisms of epitherial mesenchymal transition (EMT), which leads to cell invasion and metastasis, by using canine oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissues and cell lines. As a result, SLUG and Fascin1, which can induce EMT, were upregulated in canine oral SCC, suggesting that these proteins contribute to the progression of canine oral SCC. Also, miR-203 targeting SLUG and miR-145 targeting Fascin1 were downregulated in canine oral SCC. In conclusion, it was considered that these dysregulated miRNAs play a pivotal role fo EMT of canine oral SCC cells.

Free Research Field

獣医腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

発生が多いにもかかわらず治療が難しく、進行した場合には罹患犬の生活の質を大幅に低下させる口腔扁平上皮癌に対して、本研究で明らかとなった上皮間葉転換を抑制するmiRNAは治療標的となりうる。効果的なドラッグデリバリーシステムが開発されれば上皮間葉転換を標的とする核酸治療が可能となり、口腔扁平上皮癌の新たな治療法開発につながることが期待される。