Elucidation and therapeutic application of a novel metastasis-suppressing niche independent of anti-tumor immunity and NK cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07592
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yumimoto Kanae 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 助教 (30596838)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: がん転移

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that, a cancer metastasis-suppressing niche is formed at the metastatic site in mice pre-implanted with cancer cells, in contrast to the well-known cancer metastasis-promoting niche. These phenomena were commonly detected in all three types of transplanted cancer cells (B16F10, LLC, and E0771). Based on FACS and single RNA seq analyses of cancer niche cells, we found groups of cells that accumulated in the metastasis suppression niche and groups of cells that decreased in the niche. In addition, ELISA analysis of lung and peripheral blood revealed liquid factors that increase or decrease in a cancer cell transplantation-dependent manner.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がん患者の死因の大半は転移であり、転移を抑制できればがん患者の予後改善につながる我々の発見はがんの存在により転移が抑制されるというものだが、手術後等、がんの非存在下でも転移抑制環境を構築できれば、予後改善につながることが期待できる。