Antitumor Strategies via Regulation of PP6 Elevated in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16434
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55020:Digestive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Fujiwara Nobuyuki 岡山理科大学, 獣医学部, 講師 (30805875)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大腸がん / がん幹細胞 / protein phosphatase 6

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of PP6 in cancer stem cells of colorectal cancer and to develop anti-cancer strategies targeting PP6. The results showed that PP6 expression was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues. In addition, when PP6 expression was suppressed in colon cancer cells, colony-forming ability and tumor growth in vivo were inhibited. As a mechanism, it was observed that suppression of PP6 expression decreased the expression of cancer stem cell markers. These results suggest that PP6 is important for the maintenance of cancer stem cells.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果より、PP6が、がん幹細胞の維持に重要な働きをしていることが明らかになった。また、3種類存在するPP6の調節サブユニットの中でPP6R3ががん幹細胞の維持に重要であることが明らかとなった。今後は、PP6とPP6R3の結合の維持機構を明らかにすることで、がん幹細胞を標的とする抗がん戦略の構築が期待される。