Development of a novel lung cancer therapy targeting collagen

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16524
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55040:Respiratory surgery-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Yuko 東京医科大学, 医学部, 研究助教 (90748097)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 肺腺癌 / Fascin / miR-29b

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of lung adenocarcinoma, we found that Fascin serves as a novel marker and correlates with poor prognosis in Fascin-positive cells within CAFs. Significant correlations were found with established CAF markers α-SMA and FAP. Additionally, the proportion of tumor cells showing Fascin-positive staining correlated with its expression in CAFs. Since CAFs express Fascin, suggesting its role in mediating crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs, Fascin could be a novel therapeutic target for cancer microenvironment treatments. Furthermore, we successfully improved the stability of miR-29b derivatives through nucleic acid modifications, enhancing stability in human serum compared to conventional nucleic acids.

Free Research Field

診断病理学、実験病理学、呼吸器病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

CAFを標的とした肺癌治療戦略は確立されておらず、Fascinは治療標的の1つとなり得る。また、以前より力価を向上させた新規miR-29b核酸誘導体を作成しており、今回、miR-29b核酸修飾法の検討を行い、安定性を向上させることができた。CAFを治療標的としたmiR-29bの治療効果について、今後の研究の発展が期待される。