The effect of NHE1 for invasion and metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18314
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Kitani Takashi 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (00568909)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部扁平上皮癌 / リンパ節転移 / NHE1 / LOXL2 / 転移抑制治療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The full picture of the phenomenon of cancer metastasis is still unclear. Although many factors have been reported to contribute to cancer metastasis, therapies targeting metastasis itself have not yet been developed for practical use. In this study, we aimed to inhibit metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) more efficiently by simultaneously inhibiting two factors, Na+/H+ exchanger-1(NHE1) and lysyl oxidase-like- 2(LOXL2), which were found to be involved in HNSCC metastasis in previous studies. In mice transplanted with a human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line, a statistically significant reduction in metastasis rate was observed in the group in which these two factors were simultaneously suppressed compared to the negative control group. The simultaneous suppression of these two factors, which have different mechanisms, is expected to suppress metastasis to a higher degree.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、NHE1を治療標的とすることでいまだ実用化の例のない「転移抑制治療」開発に挑む大きな研究の一部をなしている。転移抑制治療は従来の腫瘍細胞を殺傷することを目指す癌治療とは治療戦略が異なる。したがって両者を組み合わせることで、より効果的な相加的効果あるいは相乗的効果を持つ新規がん治療の創出を企図しているという点において、高い社会的意義を持っている。