An elucidation of mechanisms of liver metastasis via metabolic changes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: International University of Health and Welfare (2023); Kyushu University (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Takeno Ayumu 国際医療福祉大学, 福岡保健医療学部, 講師 (10812456)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 肝転移 / KPCマウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is very poor because of high prevalence of liver metastasis. Thus, suppression of liver metastasis is important to improve prognosis of PDAC patients.
We made highly metastatic PDAC lines using splenic transplantation model. We analysed those cell lines and their control cell lines with RNA-seq and in vitro and in vivo experiments. There were several differences of gene expression signatures such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and vascular regeneration. Moreover, we performed RNA-seq in human PDAC tissues and showed that expression of several genes were upregulated in patients with liver metastatsis. We overexpressed and knocked out these genes in PDAC cells and are examining its effect on liver metastasis. By combining these results, it may be possible to elucidate the mechanisms of liver metastasis in PDACs.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本助成期間において、肝転移指向性のある膵癌細胞の特徴やそのメカニズムは十分に明らかにはできなかった。しかしながら、本研究をさらに進展させ膵癌の肝転移メカニズムを明らかにすることができれば、肝転移を制御する新たな治療法の開発につながり、ひいては膵癌患者の予後改善につながることが期待される。