A novel mechanism of effector T cell activation and its innovative cancer drug discovery

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18116
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Sadahira Takuya 岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20733322)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝子治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In-situ gene therapy using the tumor suppressor gene REIC/Dkk-3 as a therapeutic gene for solid tumors induces synergistic effects of "selective apoptosis of cancer cells" and "activation of anti-cancer immunity" and shows remarkable therapeutic effects on not only primary tumors but also metastases in animal models. Since our recent studies have revealed that REIC protein functions to enhance the anti-tumor activity of effector T cells, this study is designed to systematically analyze REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy from the viewpoint of anti-cancer immune activation via metabolic control mechanisms in vivo, and to investigate the possibility of using REIC/Dkkk-3 gene therapy as an autologous cancer This study aims to establish the immunological basis of REIC/Dkk-3 gene therapy as a vaccine-activated therapy and to develop it into an innovative cancer drug discovery tool.

Free Research Field

癌遺伝子治療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

REIC/Dkk-3遺伝子治療は腫瘍局所での自己の癌細胞のアポトーシスとエフェクターT細胞の機能強化による抗癌免疫活性化を誘導する「自己癌ワクチン化」という新しい癌治療概念を確立するものである。本研究を推進することで、産学連携の推進とあらゆる癌に応用可能な治療法の基盤確立に貢献することが可能と判断される。