Elucidating the effects of the spatial location and density of cancer cells within the extracellular matrix on cell behavior and function.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20512
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0403:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2022); Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Mako 東北大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (70908912)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞外マトリクス / がん / 脱細胞化組織 / 3Dバイオプリンティング / サポートバス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted based on the idea that if we could provide an extracellular matrix environment that is more similar to living tissue for cancer cells, it would be possible to mimic a cancer microenvironment. To explore to realize the development of in-vivo like 3D cancer model, the objective of this study was to evaluate the 3D placed-cancer cells behavior within the decellularized tissue derived hydrogels (dECM hydrogels), an extracellular matrix derived from living tissue. It was suggested that different decellularization methods and tissues could produce dECM hydrogels with various properties, and that these could affect the proliferation and progression of cancer cells. In addition, we investigated the conditions for 3D bioprinting of cell-containing dECM hydrogels and explored the elements necessary for designing 3D cancer tissue models using dECM.

Free Research Field

生体材料学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、がんは日本人の死因第1位である。しかしながら、がんの浸潤・転移の機序については未解明な点が多く、治療法確立に至っていない。本研究により、生体組織由来の細胞外マトリクスである脱細胞化組織由来ゲルががん細胞挙動に与える影響や3Dバイオプリンティングでの3D構造体の作製条件についての検討が進み、3Dがん組織モデルを構築するために必要な要素を提案することができた。また、本研究成果で得られた知見は、がん微小環境の構築に関与するがん細胞挙動の解明につながり、がんの浸潤・転移の機序解明や治療法開発の一助になることが期待できる。