Basic research targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts for regulation of colorectal cancer microenvironment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Tamura Koichi 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 博士研究員 (70468289)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸癌 / 癌関連線維芽細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We began analyzing digestive organ cancer specimens, first colon cancer specimens and then gastric cancer surgical specimens. Since it was found that the test results varied greatly depending on the site of evaluation, the criteria, reagents, and instruments used, as well as the cancer type, stage, and degree of differentiation of the specimens, the evaluation criteria are being reexamined.
In addition, focusing on the Wnt signaling pathway as a signaling pathway involved in the cancer microenvironment, immunostaining of Wnt signaling-related proteins using gastric cancer specimens revealed that high β-catenin expression is a poor prognostic factor in Scirrhous gastric cancer. This suggests that abnormalities in Wnt signaling-related proteins may affect the malignant potential of cancer via an increase in the number of fibroblasts forming cancer stroma.

Free Research Field

大腸癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Wntシグナル関連タンパクの異常ががん間質を形成する線維芽細胞の増加を介してがんの悪性度に影響している可能性が示唆されたことから, この結果を踏まえて大腸癌検体でもWntシグナル関連タンパクの免疫染色を行ったところ発現程度に違いがあることを認めている, 今後CAFsとの関連を評価することでがん間質に関連した新規病態が解明され, 間質をターゲットとした薬剤と既存抗癌剤との新規ハイブリッド癌治療開発へと繋がることが期待される.