The mechanism of pancreatic cancer development focusing of acinar to ductal metplasia and pancreatic microbiota

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22813
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0901:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Ako Soichiro 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (00882854)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 膵癌 / 膵腺管導管異形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In human pancreatic cancer surgical specimens, the formation of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) was observed around cancer cells, with varying amounts observed in each case. Bacterial analysis using DNA from pancreatic cancer tissue showed no differences in the types or proportions of bacteria based on ADM levels. However, when classifying 40 cases of pancreatic cancer into high ADM and low ADM groups and evaluating the differences between the two groups, it was found that the high ADM group occured early recurrence. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ADM produced osteopontin and galectin-1 with secretion into the extracellular space. Furthermore, ADM was found to enhance Akt phosphorylation in pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that ADM may be involved in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells.

Free Research Field

膵癌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により膵癌組織内で形成される膵腺管導管異形成(ADM)が膵癌の予後に寄与することが明らかとなり、手術時の再発予後指標の一つとして検討できる可能性を有している。さらに膵腺管導管異形成がサイトカインを産生・分泌し、さらに膵癌細胞内のAktリン酸化を促進することを明らかにした。これは、ADMが膵癌の前がん病変としてだけでなく、膵癌細胞の進展に直接影響を及ぼす重要な意義を有している可能性を意味している。将来的に膵癌内のADM形成を制御し、膵癌進展の抑制する治療への展望が期待できる。