Elucidation of the relationship between the cytokine network induced by inflammatory signals and the mechanism of oral cancer metastasis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17095
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: BABA Junichi 横浜市立大学, 医学研究科, 客員研究員 (40644539)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔癌転移 / サイトカイン / 炎症シグナル / 遺伝子解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cervical lymph node metastasis of oral cancer is one of the most important adverse prognostic factors. In order to improve the prognosis, the molecular mechanisms of oral cancer metastasis should be elucidated.
It has been widely reported that the metastatic potential of cancer cells is enhanced by inflammatory signals such as cytokines. Inflammatory stimulation to cancer cells alters the expression of various genes and proteins through signal transduction pathways. Subsequently, cancer cells themselves begin to secrete cytokines, which act on surrounding cells to form complex cytokine networks.
We conducted the research with the aim of clarifying the relationship between inflammatory signals and cytokine networks in oral cancer cells. Comprehensive gene expression analyses were performed using oral cancer cells with high metastatic potential. We identified several genes and proteins involved in inflammation and oral cancer progression.

Free Research Field

外科系歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔癌の罹患数および死亡率は上昇している。口腔癌の予後悪化につながる要因は複数知られているが、その中でも頸部リンパ節転移は最も良く知られた予後不良因子である。口腔癌細胞の頸部リンパ節転移を引き起こす遺伝子の発現や機能が報告されているが、その詳細は不明な点が多いのが現状である。
本研究は炎症シグナルに焦点を当て、口腔癌転移のモデル細胞株を用いて転移や予後に関する因子の同定を目指した。本研究の成果から炎症が転移に関わることが示唆され、サイトカインネットワークを阻害することが口腔癌転移の制御に重要であることが考えられた。