Developing a novel therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer utilizing gut microbial metabolites

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14762
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamura Ryodai 北海道大学, 遺伝子病制御研究所, 助教 (40880000)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 口腔内細菌 / 腫瘍内細菌 / 膵がん / 代謝産物 / 新規治療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we first conducted a clinical study of pancreatic cancer patients and healthy controls at Hokkaido University Hospital, and collected fecal and saliva samples from 68 patients. As a result, we succeeded in identifying three genera of the gut bacteria characteristic of pancreatic cancer patients, and further confirmed that the metabolites produced by these bacteria were significantly decreased in the feces of pancreatic cancer patients. Furthermore, we utilized a Drosophila model mimicking the genetic signature in pancreatic cancer and found that the bacterial metabolites identified in the clinical studies described above markedly enhance the antitumor trait effects of existing anticancer drugs.

Free Research Field

腫瘍微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で申請者らは、臨床検体を活用したマルチオミクス解析を実施し、膵がんの発症および病期進行に影響を及ぼす細菌属および代謝産物を同定することに成功した。また本研究では多大な研究資源を要する哺乳類実験の前段階にハエを活用することで、細菌叢やその代謝産物が膵がんの病態に及ぼす影響とその機序を解明することができた。加えて申請者らは、これらの成果に立脚した膵がんの新規治療法候補の創出にも成功し、今後この治療法候補の社会実装に取り組む。